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ATHENS, OH.– The Ohio women's basketball team (3-15, 1-6 MAC) will play at home Saturday afternoon in hopes of defeating the Ball State Cardinals (16-4, 5-1 MAC).The two Mid-American Conference teams are looking to add another win to their 2022-23 season records in Athens. Tipoff is set for 1 pm on Saturday (1/28), at the Convocation Center. The game can also be streamed on ESPN3.
ALL-TIME SERIES
The Bobcats have played the Ball State Cardinals a total of 68 times in their recorded school history; coming out victorious 39 times and falling the other 29 times. With the Bobcats leading the all-time series by 10, they are seeking to add another win to the record and increase the gap on Saturday.
LAST TIME OUT
The Ohio Bobcats faced Ball State on February 2nd, 2022 of last season. It was a home game that proved to be a battle between the two MAC teams. The Bobcats fell 74-84, but it was a season high in scoring for Cece Hooks with 33 points, before she later broke that record. In this matchup, Hooks also reached her eighth double-double of the season grabbing 11rebounds on top of her 33 points. However, this wasn't enough to defeat the Cardinals who were led by now sophomore, Ally Becki with 27 points. The two teams were scheduled to meet once more in the 2021-22 season on February 9th. This time the game would be played in Muncie, but the game was postponed and later canceled.
MAC PLAY
Both teams are well into MAC play for the 2022-23 season with 7 games under their belts. Ohio has fallen to: Akron, Kent State, Buffalo, Northern Illinois, Western Michigan, and Central Michigan, but recently defeated their rival Miami in overtime to give the Bobcats a 1-6 record in the MAC. The Cardinals have started conference play strong with a 6-1 record, only falling to Toledo (76-83). Ball State has defeated Bowling Green, Western Michigan, Miami, Buffalo, Central Michigan, and Akron.
SCOUTING BALL STATE
The Ball State Cardinals most recently defeated Akron, 89-66. The win was added to their undefeated at home record for the season going 10-0 in Worthen Arena. They started the game on a 16-3 run, setting the tone. The Cardinals were led on offense by 5 players, each reaching double figures in scoring; Madelyn Bischoff (20), Ally Becki (13), Annie Rauch (12), Alex Richard (12), and Anna Clephane (10). On defense, the Cardinals were led by Thelma Dis Agustsdottir with 7 defensive rebounds, followed by Marie Kiefer with 5.
LEADING THE BALL STATE CARDINALS
Overall, the Cardinals are led in scoring by Anna Clephane who has recorded 280 points this season, averaging 14 points a game. Closely behind is Thelma Dis Agustsdottir with 244 points, averaging 12.2 points a game, followed by Ally Becki with 235 points, averaging 12.4. Becki also leads the team in rebounds, collecting 122 and averaging 6.4 a game. Marie Kiefer leads Ball State on defense with 29 blocks and 16 steals.
PROJECTED BALL STATE STARTERS
Ally Becki (#0), Marie Kiefer (#14), Thelma Dis Agustsdottir (#10), Anna Clephane (#30), and Madelyn Bischoff (#24).
YAYA FELDER MAKES OHIO HISTORY
In the Bobcats most recent road matchup, Yaya Felder made history against Central Michigan. Felder joined only two others in Ohio women's basketball history to reach 40 points in a singular game. Cece Hooks reached 41 in 2020 against Akron, and Marlene Stollings first did it in 1997 against Robert Morris. Yaya Felder had an incredible outing on January 25th and joined the record book for Ohio Women's Basketball.
OHIO'S MOST RECENT STATS
The Bobcats ended their last game against Central Michigan going 20 for 56 (35.7%) on field goal attempts, 7-31 (22.6%) from the three point line and seeing the free throw line 24 times, sinking 19 (79.2.%). The Bobcats also recorded 39 rebounds, grabbed 4 steals, and had 7 assists.
LAST TO LEAD
In the Bobcats last contest against Central Michigan they were led by sophomore Yaya Feldler who hit her career high in scoring with 40 points. Yaya held 40 of the 66 points for the Bobcats, amounting to 61%. Other points came from Jasmine Hale with 9 and Caitlyn Kroll with 7. Kroll also led the Bobcats in rebounds on Wednesday (1/25) with 9 defensive rebounds, followed by Abby Garnett with 7 rebounds; 2 offensive, and 5 defensive.
NOW LEADING OHIO
Throughout the season, Ohio has been led by sophomore guard, Yaya Felder in scoring. Felder currently holds 366 total points for the Bobcats, now averaging 20.3 a game. Caitlyn Kroll follows with 174 points, and behind her is Abby Garnett with 127 points. Caitlyn Kroll also leads Ohio in rebounds, totaling 105; 95 defensive rebounds and 10 offensive. In terms of steals Yaya holds 43 for the season and Kroll is behind with 35.
MATCHUP NOTES
- Both teams are led by sophomore guards; Yaya Felder for Ohio and Ally Becki for Ball State
- The teams last met under a year ago in Athens
- Yaya Felder is coming off a 40 point game, making Ohio WBB history and leading the MAC in scoring
- This will be the tenth time Bob Boldon and Brady Sallee are to meet
Up Next:
After Saturday's contest (1/28), the Ohio women's basketball team will get on the road and travel to Eastern Michigan for a Wednesday night matchup (2/1). The conference game will start at 7pm in Ypsilanti, Mich. and can be streamed on ESPN3/+.
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