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MUNCIE, IN.– The Ohio Women's Basketball team (5-18, 3-9 MAC) will play Ball State (21-4, 11-1 MAC) in Muncie, Indiana this Wednesday (3/15). This will be the Bobcats second time playing the Cardinals in 2023, as they look to redeem themselves from their last time out in January. The conference tipoff the is set for 6:30 pm at Worthern Arena and will be available to stream on ESPN+.
ALL-TIME SERIES
The Ohio women's basketball team will go head to head against the Ball State Cardinals for the second time this season and 70th recorded matchup. The all-time series currently stands at 39-30, with the Bobcats ahead by nine wins. The teams have gone back and forth over the years, proving to be fierce MAC competitors, and this year Ball State is looking to close in on the all-time series gap.
LAST TIME OUT
The Bobcats faced the Cardinals less than a month ago on January 28th in the Convocation Center. In the late January matchup, Ball State came out with the win at 78-58. Ball State was led by Anna Clephane securing 20 points for the Cardinals, followed by Thelma Dis Agustsdottir with 18. Ball State ended the last Ohio game with 4 players reaching double figures in scoring, ultimately dominating the offense. The Bobcats were led by Yaya Felder with 19 points, followed by Kate Dennis with 12. Overall in the last time out, Ohio shot 32.2% from the field, 30.3% from the three, 90.9% from the line, and secured 36 rebounds. Whereas Ball State shot 49.2% from the field, 38.5% from the three, 62.5% from the line and collected 38 rebounds. The cardinals held the lead for the majority of last matchup, but Ohio was able to force 3 lead changes on Ball State with increased defensive pressure.
SCOUTING BALL STATE
Most recently in MAC play, the Cardinals faced off against Akron, winning 61-56. The game proved to be a challenge for both teams as they recorded to have 5 lead changes and were toed up 3 different times. However, Anna Clephane for Ball State led the team on offense with 26 points, going 9-of-17 from the field and 8-of-11 from the free throw line. Marie Kiefer followed in scoring with 10 points on the board, going 4-of-8 from the filed and 2-of-3 from the line. On defense, Akron outrebounded the Cardinals with 40 rebounds; 32 defensive and 8 offensive whereas Ball State totaled 29 rebounds; 22 defensive and 7 offensive. The Cardinals were led in rebounding by Ally Becki and Marie Kiefer with 6 apiece and were led in steals by Thelma Dis Agustsdottir, snagging 4 out of the team's 13.
LEADING THE CARDINALS
When looking at the 2022-23 season for Ball State they have proven to be dominate within the MId American Conference and that is due to their leading players. Currently, they are led in scoring by Anna Clephane with a total of 376 points, averaging 15 a game. Not far behind is Thelma Dis Agustsdottir with 308 accumulated points from the season, averaging 12.3 a game. The Cardinals are currently led in rebounding by Ally Becki and Marie Kiefer with 146 apiece. Becki average 6.1 rebounds a game and Kiefer averages 5.8 a game. Ally Becki also leads the team in steals with 44 so far this season and Marie Kiefer leads in blocks with 36.
PROJECTED BALL STATE STARTERS
Ally Becki (#0), Thelma Dis Agustsdottir (#10), Marie Kiefer (#14), Madelyn Bischoff (#24), and Anna Clephane (#30).
OHIO'S MOST RECENT STATS
The Bobcats ended their last game against Northern Illinois going 25-of-57 (43.9%) from the field, 11-of-27 (40.7%) from the three, 11-of-21 (52.4%) from the line, snagged 38 rebounds, 2 steals, and collected 18 assists.
LAST TO LEAD
In the Bobcats last contest, Yaya Felder led Ohio on offense totaling 23 points. Felder went 9-of-17 from the field, 2-of-6 from the three, and 3-of-6 from the line. Two other players reached double figures, Caitlyn Kroll with 15 and Jasmine Hale with 11. Caitlyn Kroll also led in rebounds, collecting 10 for her second double-double of the season. Abby Garnett followed with 7 rebounds; 1 offensive, 6 defensive.
NOW LEADING OHIO
Throughout the 2022-23 season, Ohio has been led by Yaya Felder in scoring. Felder has hit double figures in almost every game this season and currently totals 450 points for the Bobcats, averaging 20.5 a game. Caitlyn Kroll follows with 187 points, and behind her is Abby Garnett with 154. Caitlyn Kroll also leads Ohio in rebounds, totaling 133; 114 defensive rebounds and 19 offensive. In terms of steals Yaya holds 48 for the season and Kroll is behind with 40. Leading in blocks is Ella Pope with an impressive 14, followed closely by Garnett with 13.
MATCHUP NOTES
- Ohio's Yaya Felder is 2nd in the MAC for scoring and is only 1.3 away from the number 1 average
- Caitlyn Kroll is coming off her 2nd double-double of the season with 15 points and 10 rebounds
- Ball State's Anna Clephane was nominated MAC basketball player of the week
- This will be the second time Ohio will meet the Cardinals this season
- Ohio is coming off their first at home MAC win of the season
- Ball State has already clenched a spot in the 2023 MAC tournament
- Since Jan. 28, the Bobcats have gone 2-3 in MAC play
Up Next:
After leaving Munice, the Ohio Bobcats will return home to the Convocation Center to take on Central Michigan this Saturday (3/11). Tipoff will be at 1pm and can be streamed on ESPN3.
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