For the Ohio women's basketball team, this final two-game home stand could not have come at a better time.
Having lost six straight games and now fighting for a home game in the first round of the Mid-American Conference tournament, the Bobcats will play host to the Buffalo Bulls tonight in what coach Lynn Bria calls the biggest game of the season for both teams.
As it stands now, Ohio (7-17, 4-9 MAC) is one game ahead of both Buffalo and Miami for the third seed out of the East Division.
The three teams are battling for two home spots in the first round of the tournament and tonight's game will have a huge impact on who gets seeded where.
We all want to be here for the first round of the tournament
Bria said. It gives you an advantage to get to Cleveland (the site of the quarterfinal through championship rounds) and to have your shot while you're there.
First, however, the team must go through an equally hungry Bulls squad and one that, like the Bobcats, has struggled recently.
Buffalo (8-16, 3-10 MAC ) has lost eight of its last nine games, including a 65-51 decision to nationally-ranked Bowling Green in its last outing. Stephanie Bennett led all Buffalo scorers with 15 and two other Bulls scored in double figures, but the effort was not good enough against the Falcons.
Ohio has now lost six straight after a 60-56 defeat to Miami. Rachel Frederick had a double-double and led all Bobcats in scoring, but a 10-0 RedHawk run late in the second half sealed Ohio's fate.
The Bobcats will be seeking a season sweep of the Bulls tonight. They swept Buffalo in 2004 and won the only meeting between the two teams last year. In this season's first meeting, Ohio shut down the Buffalo trio of Heather Turner, Brooke Meunier and Bennett in the first half, which allowed the Bobcats to take a 17-point into halftime en route to a 72-62 victory at Alumni Arena. Bria expects a better fight from the Bulls this time around.
They're going to be a better team Bria said. Stephanie Bennett is one of the best point guards in the MAC and Rachelle Matthys will be back for them
and she's one of their better players. I think they've gotten better overall.
Tip off is set for 7 p.m. tonight at The Convo.
- Jason Fazzone
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Jason Fazzone
