Dec. 16, 2009

Ohio-UNCW Game Notes

ATHENS, Ohio - After playing four of its last five on the road, Ohio women's basketball returns to the friendly confines of the Convo for a pair of games before breaking for Christmas. The `Cats will play host to UNC Wilmington Thursday night at 7 p.m. before welcoming Clemson of the basketball-strong ACC Saturday afternoon.

BETWEEN THE LINES
• Ohio (3-6) and UNC Wilmington (3-4) will be meeting for the fourth time in the all-time series and the third time in Athens. The two teams last met Dec. 18, 2005.
• The `Cats will be looking to snap a three-game losing skid and losses in four of their last five.
• According to available records, the `Cats have been conquering the Colonial Athletic Association to this point. According to records, Ohio is 5-1 against the CAA coming into Thursday's game.
• Ohio's last game against the CAA was against UNC Wilmington.

NUMBERS TO NOTE
• .376 - Opponent's field goal percentage
• 31.0 - Ohio's average turnovers the last two games
• .274 - Opponent's 3-point FG percentage
• 55.9 - Opponent's points per game

TOUGH D
Ohio has held seven of its nine opponents under 60 points. The `Cats rank first in the MAC and 41st in the nation in scoring defense at 55.9 ppg.

TERRIBLE TURNOVERS
Miscues came back to haunt Ohio in its two games in the Keystone State. The `Cats gave the ball up 31 times each against Temple and Duquesne. It resulted in a combined 51 points for the opposition.

CLOSING IN ON THE RECORD
Junior Kamille Buckner needs 4 blocks to tie and 5 blocks to break the school's all-time record held by Holly Skeen (115, 1991-95).

RECAPPING LAST GAME
Carolyn Barnett and Thia Gholson gave Ohio a huge lift off the bench, and Ohio overcame a 15-point first half deficit, but it was Duquesne that landed the final blow in a hard-fought 52-50 setback late Sunday afternoon in the Palumbo Center ... Ohio (3-6) got 23 big points from its bench and outrebounded the Dukes 39-33, but turnovers bit the `Cats for the second-straight game as the Green and White coughed up 31 miscues on the day ... The `Cats defense came up big once again Sunday, forcing Duquesne (7-3) into 24 turnovers and holding the Dukes to 34 percent shooting from the field. Ohio shot 32 percent itself ... Barnett led the Green and White with a season-best 13 points, six rebounds and three blocks, while Jenny Poff and Ashley Fowler each chipped in eight, with Fowler tying a season-high three steals. Thia Gholson turned in her best game of the season as well, scoring six points and pulling down nine rebounds. Kamille Buckner recorded a game- and season-high 11 rebounds while blocking four shots.

SCOUTING UNC WILMINGTON
UNCW enters the game 3-4 overall on the season after picking up a big 70-40 win over Coastal Carolina its last time out. The Seahawks are scoring 63.7 ppg. on .425 shooting from the field. Defensively, UNCW is strong, giving up just 59.6 ppg. thus far ... Ann Hancock is in her ninth season at the helm of the Seahawks.

Junior Brittany Blackwell is an all-around player and leads UNCW in nearly every major statistical category. Coming into play, she is averaging 14.9 ppg. and 9.3 rpg. to go with 2.7 spg. and 3.3 apg. Senior guard Greta Luksyte is second on the team in scoring at 9.0 ppg., while junior center Martha White is averaging 8.1 ppg. to go with 4.3 rpg., good for second on the team.

SERIES HISTORY
According to available records, Ohio and UNCW will be meeting for the fourth time in the all-time series. The `Cats lead the series 2-1, with both wins coming in Athens. The two last met Dec. 18, 2005, with UNCW claiming a 60-55 win in Wilmington, N.C.

OHIO & THE COLONIAL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION
According to available records, The `Cats are 5-1 all-time against the CAA, with their only loss coming against UNCW in their last meeting against a CAA foe. Ohio also holds wins over Drexel, Hofstra and Northeastern.