Lauren Hmiel has nearly doubled her scoring average, but she isn't worried about those numbers in the box score.
She's looking at the win column.
I'm not concerned about how many points I score
said the senior, who's leading the team with 14.2 points per game.
What she is concerned with is that the Bobcats sit at 4-8 entering Mid-American Conference play tonight at Buffalo.
In spite of the unremarkable record, Hmiel insists that her team learned a lot from a nonconference schedule peppered with close calls against No. 18 Florida, Clemson and Syracuse.
We realize how much we need each other she said. We're going to be ready.
The tough early season has prepared the Bobcats for anything they'll face against the likes of Buffalo, which comes in 4-9, said junior guard Jennifer Bushby.
We know we can play with anybody she said. We have experience in those game situations.
Bushby is another player making a bigger impact on the offense.
She's third in points per game with 10.3 and leads the team in assists, averaging 4.8 per game. She averaged just less than seven points per game last year.
Against Buffalo, however, Bushby said coach Semeka Randall's focus was on defense.
We've worked on sitting down in a stance and making sure no one's cutting in front of us
said Bushby, who also tops Ohio with two steals a game.
The Bobcats are second in the league with 58.3 points allowed per game.
The Bulls have put up more points than Ohio this season, but they're also allowing more than 10 more points per game.
An inconsistent Ohio offense might be ready to take advantage. The team is second to last in the MAC with 59.9 points per game.
Since scoring a season-low 34 against South Carolina in late November, however, the Bobcats have averaged 62 points.
Buffalo has surrendered more than 80 points to teams like North Carolina A & T and Hofstra.
Maintaining Ohio's dominance on the boards - they lead the MAC in rebound margin - is an area of focus, said Hmiel. Taking care of the ball will also be a key.
We need to keep our turnovers down
said Hmiel.
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Sports
Dylan Scott
