After ending its regular season with a home loss to Miami Wednesday, Ohio will turnaround and face the RedHawks for the second straight game.
This time, however, the contest holds larger implications: the right to move on in the Mid-American Conference Tournament.
Ohio (6-22, 1-15 MAC) secured the 11th seed in the MAC tournament thanks to a coin flip tiebreaker after splitting the season matchups against Kent State.
The Bobcats showed the ability to contend with the RedHawks in their recent loss. Ohio went on a 10-3 run to cut the deficit. Ohio junior guard Shavon Robinson tied it at 59 with a minute left, but the RedHawks’ senior guard Courtney Osborn hit a clutch three-pointer to inspire a Miami win.
“We’ll have our team ready to go (against Miami),” Ohio coach Semeka Randall said. “We understand just how important this game is.”
Randall is right, the game is important, the life of Ohio’s season rides on the game. A win means a trip to Cleveland for the MAC Tournament, a loss means the end of a season, and possibly an era for the Bobcats. Randall is in the fifth and final year of her contract with Ohio.
“A win would be awesome, but it’s just how we prep for (the RedHawks) is going to be very important,” Randall said.
Stopping Osborn and senior forward Kirsten Olowinski will be paramount for the Bobcats if they want to beat Miami and advance further in the tournament.
Osborn was recently named to the all-MAC first team, and Olowinski was named to the second team. In their two games against Ohio this season, Osborn and Olowinski have combined for 60 points.
Ohio had three players step up and score in double figures against and is hoping to do so again in the teams’ third and final meeting this season.
A win in Oxford would result in a matchup with the winner of No. 10 Northern Illinois and No. 7 Buffalo on March 13 at Quicken Loans Arena.
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