ATHENS, Ohio – The Ohio women’s basketball team (1-2, 0-0 MAC) returns to the Convocation Center on Sunday, Nov. 26 for a matchup with the IUPUI Jaguars (1-4, 0-0 Horizon). Tip-off is set for 1 p.m. ET and the game will be available to watch on ESPN+.
SCOUTING IUPUI
IUPUI has a 1-4 record at the start of the 2023-24 season with a win over Eastern Illinois and losses to two teams on Ohio’s schedule, Ball State and nationally ranked Ohio State. The Jaguars were picked to finish ninth in the Horizon Preseason Poll and graduate student Jazmyn Turner was selected for the Preseason All-League First Team. Turners ranks first on the team for RPG (9.5), is tied for first in blocks (3), third for PPG (13.0), total rebounds (19) and steals (3).
IUPUI’s leading scorer is junior Katie Davidson with 80 total points and 16 PPG. Davidson is currently shooting 40.6 percent from the field, 46.7 percent from the arch and 75.0 percent from the line. Sophomore Abby Wolterman is the Jaguar’s top rebounder with a total of 25 through five games. Senior Jaci Jones leads the team in assists (10) and steals (5).
SCOUTING OHIO
Ohio currently has a 1-2 overall record after falling 89-60 at Morehead State on Nov. 22. Based on statistics, the Bobcats have been performing better offensively than their opponents with a 40.9 FG% and 39.3 3PT%, but turnovers and rebounding have stifled Ohio’s overall success.
Ohio is a young team with several freshmen and sophomores playing 20 or more minutes per game. The Bobcats has only had three returners in their starting lineups with one being redshirt junior Madi Mace, who is back after missing the entirety of last season due to injury. Despite that, Ohio’s two transfers – junior Kennedi Watkins and senior Bengisu Alper – have provided veteran leadership and experience on the court.
Through three games, Watkins, Monica Williams (Fr.), Laylay Fantroy (Fr.) and Mace have recorded double figures in points and rebounds.
LAST TIME OUT
The Ohio women’s basketball team (1-2, 0-0 MAC) fell at Morehead State (2-3, 0-0 OVC) 89-60 on Wednesday, Nov. 22 at the Johnson Arena.
“I thought we played some good minutes of basketball, but obviously not enough. The turnovers are still plaguing us a little bit and we have to get that figured out before conference play. We’re not anywhere near a finished product and we still have work to do,” head coach Bob Bolden said. “We’ll take tomorrow off for thanksgiving, and it will be a nice break for everybody. Then we’ll get back and get two days of practice to get ready for a very talented IUPUI team.”
Sophomore Cassidy Lafler (Dublin, Ohio) led the Bobcats with a career-best 11 points and shot 4-for-5 from the field. Junior Kennedi Watkins (Ballwin, Mo.) tallied 10 points, three rebounds and finished 5-for-7 from the field. In addition to netting six points, freshman Laylay Fantroy (Palestine, Texas) grabbed a career-best six rebounds and three assists.
Overall, the Bobcats 40.4 percent from the field, 20.8 percent from the arch and 59.1 percent from the line. More than half of Ohio’s points were scored in the paint, with 25 points coming from off the bench.
Morehead State capitalized on the Bobcats’ 29 turnovers. The Eagles scored 33 points off turnovers, 18 fast break points and 38 points in the paint.
ALL TIME VS IUPUI
The Bobcats and Jaguar have played each other five times and most recently met during the 2022-23 season. Ohio leads the series with three wins while IUPUI has earned two.
LAST TIME VS IUPUI
The last competition between Ohio and IUPUI was during the 2022-23 season with the Bobcats falling to the Jaguars, 97-86.
WATKINS MAKING HER MARK AT OHIO
Since arriving in Athens, junior Kennedi Watkins has made an immediate impact on the court for the Bobcats. Watkins surpassed the 500-point milestone after netting 10 points in Ohio’s 67-61 win over Dayton (11/16).
She has tallied 25 points – tied for third best on the team – so far this season and has recorded two double-figure point games. Watkins’ dynamic play and experience provides Ohio’s young team with more veteran leadership. The Ballwin, Mo. native is currently averaging 8.3 points per game and 3.3 rebounds per game.
MACE’S COMEBACK STORY
After spending the 2022-23 season on the sidelines due to injury, redshirt junior Madi Mace has proved to be an important presence on the court for Ohio since the first game of this season. She is tied for first on the team in rebounds (13/4.3 RPG) and tied third for points (25/8.3 PPG).
Mace have proven to be a top performer all over the court. In the season opener at App State (11/11), she recorded seven points, seven rebounds, three assists and matched her career-high in steals (3). Following that game, Mace tallied 12 points, three rebounds, two assists and netted a career-high three field goals from the arch in Ohio’s win over Dayton (11/16).
YOUNG BOBCATS MAKING AN IMPACT
With more than half of the active players being underclassmen – including five freshmen – Ohio has one of the youngest teams in the conference. Despite their lack of experience on the collegiate level, three of the freshmen have played significant minutes for the Bobcats. Ohio also has two sophomores who have adapted to new leadership roles and made significant improvements since last season.
Freshman Monica Williams has found herself in the starting lineup in all three games this season. Williams is averaging 22 minutes per game, has netted 27 points, collected 11 rebounds and is shooting 64.3 percent from the line. Freshmen Laylay Fantroy and Bailey Tabeling have recorded significant statistics coming off the bench. Fantroy opened the season with 10 points and six steals at App State (11/11). Fantroy is tied for first on the team in rebounds (13), steals (7) and ranks second for assists (6). Tabeling also recorded 10 points in her collegiate debut at App State (11/11) and currently leads the team in assists (7).
Sophomores Jaya McClure and Cassidy Lafler have tallied a combined 49 points in three games. After missing the first game due to injury, McClure shined in Ohio’s win over Dayton with 18 points, four assists and three steals. At Morehead State (11/22), Lafler lead the team with career-best 11 points – her first double-figure point game – and shot 4-for-5 from the field.
MAC WOMEN’S BASKETBALL STATISTIC LEADERS (Thru 11/24)
Team Rankings (Top 5):
Field Goal Percentage – 5th (0.409)
3PT Field Goal Percentage – 4th (0.323)
3PT FGs Made Per Game – 5th (7.0)
Defensive Rebounds Per Game – 5th (24.3)
Steals Per Game – 2nd (11.67)
Total Steals – 5th (35)
Individual Rankings (Top 10):
Offensive Rebounds Per Game – Laylay Fantroy, 8th (2.7)
3PT Field Goal Percentage – Madi Mace, 8th (.444)
Blocked Shots – Kate Dennis, 6th (5)
Blocked Shots Per Game – Kate Dennis, 5th (1.7)
Steals Per Game – Laylay Fantroy, 4th (2.3); Bengisu Alper, 5th (2.3)
Game-High Stats (Top 3):
Team Steals – 2nd (16), Ohio at App State (11/11/23); 3rd (14), Ohio vs. Dayton (11/16/23)
Individual Steals – Laylay Fantroy, 2nd (6); Ohio at App State (11/11/23)
Individual Blocks – Kate Dennis, 2nd (4); Ohio at App State (11/11/23)
UP NEXT
The Bobcats will host Longwood on Wednesday, Nov. 29 in the Convocation Center. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. ET and the game will be available to watch on ESPN+.
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