ATHENS, Ohio – The Ohio women's basketball (2-2, 0-0 MAC) is set to host Longwood (1-4, 0-0 Big South) on Wednesday, Nov. 29 in the Convocation Center. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. ET and will be available to watch on ESPN+.
 
SCOUTING LONGWOOD
Longwood enters the matchup with Ohio with a 1-4 record after falling at Clemson, 63-102 on Sunday, Nov. 19. The Lancers have also suffered losses at American, Delaware and James Madison. In its home opener, Longwood earned a 88-59 victory over Chowan University.
 
The Lancers are currently averaging 64.8 points PPG; shooting 46.8 percent from the field, 36.3 percent from the arch and 67.1 percent from the line. The team averages 36.6 rebounds, 12.8 steals and 10.6 assists per game. The Lancers force 20.4 turnovers per game and average 18.2 points off turnovers. Longwood's opponents average 81.4 PPG while shooting a 46.0 FG percentage, 38.6 three-point percentage and 61.3 FT percentage. Opponents have outrebounded the Lancers with 48.6 per game and average almost two-times the number of assists with 20.6 per game.
 
Senior Janay Turner leads the team with 57 points (11.4 PPG) with a 43.9 FG%, 52.9 3PT% and 66.7 FT%. Junior Malea Brown is also a main offensive contributor for the Lancers, tallying 46 points (9.2 PPG), 11 rebounds, nine assists and eight steals.
Freshman Otaifo Esenabhalu has recorded a team-high 33 rebounds this season and averages 6.6 rebounds per game.
 
SCOUTING OHIO
Ohio is coming off successful 75-71 win over IUPUI at home, improving to a 2-2 overall record. The Bobcats are currently averaging 66.5 points per game; shooting 42.2 percent from the field, 37.2 percent from the arch and 60.2 percent from the line. Ohio averages 33 rebounds, 12 assists and 11.5 steals per game. The Bobcats force 25 turnovers per game and average 19.5 points off turnovers.
 
Meanwhile, opponents are averaging 73 points per game with a 39.4 FG%, 24.7 3PT% and 63.8 FT%. Ohio's opponents average 45.5 rebounds, 12.3 assists and 11.8 steals per game. Opponents have forced 25.3 turnover per game from Ohio and have scored 26 points off turnovers.
 
Ohio's offense is led by sophomore Jaya McClure, who has recorded 47 points (15.7 PPG) and 11 assists in three games. Junior Kennedi Watkins and freshman Monica Williams have combined for 68 points and 32 rebounds this season. Redshirt junior Madi Mace has tallied a team-high 30 rebounds with 17 being on defense.
 
ALL TIME VS LONGWOOD
The two teams have only met once in the history of their programs. This matchup occurred last season with Longwood squeezing out a 66-65 win.
 
LAST TIME VS LONGWOOD
During the 2022-23 season, the Bobcats and Lancers faced off in Farmville, Va. with Longwood earning a 66-65 win off a jumper from Janay Turner with six seconds left on the clock. It was an extremely close matchup with the lead changing and score being tied nine times throughout the game.
 
LAST TIME OUT
The Ohio women's basketball team (2-2, 0-0 MAC) defeated IUPUI (1-5, 0-0 Horizon) 75-71 on Sunday, Nov. 26 in the Convocation Center.
 
Sophomore Cassidy Lafler (Dublin, Ohio) sunk a free throw in the second quarter to start a one-point lead for Ohio. The team maintained the lead throughout the rest of the game and got as far as 13 points head of IUPUI.
 
IUPUI looked to take the lead in the fourth quarter after it knocked Ohio down to a minimal lead. However, Ohio's defense stayed on target to keep IUPUI out of the paint. It manufactured a two-minute scoring drought for IUPUI toward the end of the fourth. The Bobcats defense improved throughout the game. They stole the ball from the Jaguars 11 times, led by junior Kate Dennis (Rockford, Ill.) with four. Dennis' defensive positioning allowed the Bobcats to get their hands on the ball more.
 
"I think our kids deserve a lot of credit for the resiliency that they showed and sticking together. Again, it's hard to put into words that feeling when it seems like you've won the game, or you're gonna win a game but it's been kind of slowly taken away from them and It's hard to fight that. I thought they did a really good job of fighting that, sticking together and executing," head coach Bob Bolden said.
 
When Ohio got its hands on the ball, it went for the 3-pointer. Ohio went 11-for-21 beyond the arc for its best 3-point percentage so far this season. Senior guard Bengisu Alper (Istanbul, Turkey) took charge on 3-point shooting with a 3-for-3 performance.
 
McClure led the Bobcats in scoring with 21 points, mostly on 3-pointers. She shot 3-for-4 beyond the arc and 6-for-9 from the line to set a new season high in points. Right behind her was freshman Monica Williams (Indianapolis, Ind.), who recorded new season-bests in steals, assists and rebounds with three, five and six respectively. Williams also played scored six points for the Bobcats while rotating in an out at point guard for a season-high minutes played. Four Bobcats totaled double-digit points: Alper (13), Dennis (10), McClure (21) and junior guard Kennedi Watkins (10; Ballwin, Mo.) helped the Bobcats to their highest-scoring game of the season.
 
THE JAYA MCCLURE SHOW: SEASON 2
After missing the first game of the season due to injury, McClure has returned to the court with a commanding presence and has acted as a major playmaker for the Bobcats. She has amassed 47 points and ranks fifth in the MAC for points per game (15.7).
 
McClure leads the team with 11 assists and has recorded two double-figure point games. Most recently, she tallied a season-best 21 points in Ohio's 75-71 win over IUPUI, finishing 50 percent from the field, 75 percent from the arch and 70 percent from the line. McClure's also recorded a career-best three 3PT field goals and six free throws against the Jaguars.
 
WATKINS MAKING HER MARK
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 35 points - the second best on the team - so far this season and has recorded three 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 8.8 points per game and 3.8 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 ranks first on the team in rebounds (19/4.8 RPG) and has netted 25 points (6.3 PPG). Mace is 12 rebounds off from reaching 300 career rebounds and 32 points from reaching 500 career points.
 
DEPENDABLE KATE DENNIS
Junior Kate Dennis has remained a consistent player for Ohio, maintaining a spot in the starting lineup throughout all four games this season. Dennis has played 95 minutes for the Bobcats - averaging 23.8 minutes per game, tallied 26 points, eight rebounds, four steals and five blocks. She ranks seventh in the conference for total blocks and sixth for blocks per game (1.3). Dennis has only recorded three turnovers in four games, averaging less than one turnover per game.
 
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. Three of the freshmen are playing an average of more than 15 minutes per game in addition to Monica Williams earning a place in the starting lineup in all four games this season.
 
Williams ranks third on the team in points (33), second in rebounds (17) and assists (8). In Ohio's win over IUPUI, Williams tallied career highs for rebounds (6), assists (5) and steals (3).
 
Laylay Fantroy is currently averaging 21.6 minutes per game; totaling 25 points, 14 rebounds, six assists and a team-high seven steals. Fantroy ranks second in the conference for game-high individuals with her six steals in the season opener at App State.
 
Bailey Tabeling has also made several contributions to the team so far this season. Tabeling has netted 17 points, shooting 46.2 percent from the field, 33.3 percent from the arch and 66.7 percent from the line. She has also recorded seven assists and seven steals, ranking in the top three on the team for both categories. 
 
MAC WOMEN'S BASKETBALL STATISTIC LEADERS (Thru 11/27)
 
Team Rankings (Top 5):
3PT Field Goal Percentage - 2nd (0.372)
Total 3PT Field Goals Made - 5th (32)
3PT FGs Made Per Game - 4th (8.0)
Defensive Rebounds Per Game - 5th (24.3)
Total Steals - 4th (46)
Steals Per Game - 2nd (11.50)
 
Individual Rankings (Top 10):
Points Per Game - Jaya McClure, 5th (15.7)
3PT Field Goal Percentage - Jaya McClure, 5th (.500); Kate Dennis, 10th (.400)
Assists Per Game - Jaya McClure, 9th (3.7)
Blocked Shots - Kate Dennis, 7th (5)
Blocked Shots Per Game - Kate Dennis, 6th (1.3)
 
Game-High Stats (Top 3):
Team 3PT Percentage - 2nd (52.4%), Ohio vs. IUPUI (11/26/23)
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, 3rd (4); Ohio at App State (11/11/23)
 
UP NEXT
The Bobcats will travel on Tuesday, Dec. 5 for a matchup with Ohio State at the Value City Arena. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. ET and the game will be available to watch on B1G+.
 
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