ATHENS, Ohio – The Ohio women's basketball team (8-17, 5-9 MAC) will return home to the Convocation Center as it prepares to host Western Michigan (12-13, 7-7 MAC) on Wednesday, Feb. 28. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. ET and the game will be available to watch on ESPN+.
 
SCOUTING WESTERN MICHIGAN
Heading into its matchup with Ohio, Western Michigan has a 12-13 overall and 7-7 conference record. Western Michigan averages 61.4 points per game; shooting 39.9 percent from the field, 32 percent from the arc and 69 percent from the line. Western Michigan averages 29.6 rebounds, 12.6 assists and 9.2 steals per game. The Broncos have forced 19.1 turnovers per game and average 17.4 points off turnovers.
 
Opponents average 63.8 points per game; shooting 42.4 percent from the field, 29 percent from the arc and 71.6 percent from the line. Opponents average 37.4 rebounds, 12.5 assists and 8.1 steals per game. Opponents have forced Western Michigan to give up 16.2 turnovers per game and average 14.4 points off turnovers.
 
Kaitlyn Zarycki leads Western Michigan in all major statistical categories. Zarycki has a team-high 469 points, 123 rebounds, 87 assists and 52 steals.
 
SCOUTING OHIO
The Bobcats are 8-17 overall and 5-9 in conference play heading into their game with Western Michigan. Ohio averages 63.2 points per game; shooting 38.6 percent from the field, 28.2 percent from the arc and 67.4 percent from the line. Ohio averages 31.3 rebounds, 11.1 assists and 10.6 steals per game. The Bobcats have forced 21.3 turnovers per game and average 18.8 points off turnovers.
 
Meanwhile, opponents average 72.4 points per game; shooting 42.8 percent from the field, 30.2 percent from the arc and 72.8 percent from the line. Opponents average 42.5 rebounds, 15.1 assists and 9.4 steals per game. Opponents have forced Ohio to give up 19.3 turnovers per game and have scored an average of 20.2 points off turnovers.
 
Bailey Tabeling leads the Bobcats in scoring with 232 points. Madi Mace and Laylay Fantroy have grabbed a team-high 92 rebounds each, Monica Williams ranks first on the team with 56 assists and Fantroy leads the team with 45 steals.
 
LAST TIME VS WESTERN MICHIGAN
Ohio and Western Michigan met earlier this season with the Broncos earning a 73-58 win over the Bobcats.
 
ALL TIME VS WESTERN MICHIGAN
The Bobcats leads in the series with Western Michigan 35-33 and have won four of the last 10 matchups.
 
LAST TIME OUT
The Ohio women's basketball team (8-17, 5-9 MAC) fell 67-54 at Buffalo (15-10, 8-6 MAC) on Saturday, Feb. 24.
 
Sophomore Jaya McClure (Louisville, Ky.) led Ohio in scoring with 13 points. Freshman Monica Williams (Indianapolis, Ind.) and junior Kennedi Watkins (Ballwin, Mo.) also finished in double figures with 11 points each. Freshman Laylay Fantroy (Palestine, Texas) grabbed a team-high six rebounds.
 
After the first 10 minutes of play, Buffalo held a 27-13 lead over Ohio.
 
The second quarter was a better showing for the Bobcats as they outscored Buffalo 10-2. Ohio was able to stifle the Bulls was solid and organized defensive efforts. Ohio also outrebounded Buffalo 12-9, forced four fouls and five turnovers. Heading into the locker room, junior Kate Dennis (Rockford, Ill.) led the Bobcats in scoring and rebounding with six points and four boards.
 
Buffalo's shooting performance in the third quarter was difficult for Ohio to defend and the Bulls earned a 53-39 lead heading into the final 10 minutes of the game. However, the Bobcats did force Buffalo to give up three turnovers, five fouls and finished the quarter four-for-four from the line.
 
Ohio outscored Buffalo 15-14 in the final quarter but the Bulls came away with a 67-54 win.
 
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 played started in 12 of 17 games, amassing 216 points.
 
McClure ranks second on the team with 55 assists, third for points and has recorded 10 double-figure point games. She tallied a career-best 26 points and seven rebounds versus Kent State (2/21). Against Syracuse (12/9), McClure recorded a career-best in assists (9) and free throws made (7).
 
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 tallied a career-high 21 points at Toledo and versus Ball State. Watkins has tallied 228 points so far this season, ranks second on the team for scoring and has recorded 13 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 10.9 points, 3.7 rebounds per game and has tallied 11 blocks.
 
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 (92/3.8 RPG) and has netted 127 points. Mace reached 300 career rebounds after grabbing four versus Syracuse and reached 500 career points after she netted a season-best 16 points at Kent State. Against Eastern Michigan, Mace recorded a career-best seven assists.
 
DEPENDABLE KATE DENNIS
Junior Kate Dennis has remained a consistent player for Ohio, maintaining a spot in the starting lineup throughout all 25 games this season. Dennis has played 569 minutes for the Bobcats - averaging 22.7 minutes per game - tallied 146 points, 49 rebounds, 15 steals and seven blocks. She has only recorded 19 turnovers across 25 games, averaging less than one turnover per game. Dennis tallied a career-best 14 points against Kent State (2/21).
 
TABELING FOR THREE
Freshman Bailey Tabeling has emerged as one of Ohio's best shooters, specifically from the third-point line. Against Syracuse (12/9/23), Tabeling led both teams with 23 points; shooting 80 percent from the field and 77.8 percent from the arc. Tabeling's performance beyond the arc was one of the best by an Ohio freshman and she is the first Bobcat to record seven or more three-pointers in a single game since Amani Burke in 2018-19. The freshman ranks third in the MAC and 15th in the NCAA for 3PT FG percentage and has the second-best single-game performance for 3FGs made so far this season. Tabeling ranks first on the team for points with 225 total.
 
FRESHMEN MAKING AN IMPACT: LAYLAY FANTROY & MONICA WILLIAMS
With more than half of the active players being underclassmen - including five freshmen - Ohio has one of the youngest teams in the league. Newcomers, Monica Williams and Laylay Fantroy, average 20 or more minutes per game and Williams has earned a position in the starting lineup in all 25 games this season.
 
Fantroy recorded her first career double-double and is Ohio's first player to do so this season. Coming off the bench for majority of the season, she has a team-high 45 steals, is tied for first in rebounds (92) and fifth in points (195). Fantroy is currently fifth in the MAC for steals per game, total steals and ranks third in the conference in game-high individual performances this season with her six steals at App State. Fantroy made her first career start at Ball State (2/3) and recorded a career-high 24 points versus Texas State (2/10).
 
Williams ranks fourth on the team for points (214), third for rebounds and first for assists. In Ohio's win over IUPUI, Williams tallied a career-high five assists. At Kent State, Williams recorded her first double-figure point game with a career-high 15 points. Against Eastern Michigan, she grabbed a career-best eight rebounds. In the team's win versus Miami, Williams matched her career best in steals with three total. She also recorded a career-best three blocks versus Kent State (2/21)
 
WELCOME BACK, PEYTON GUICE
After spending almost two years on the bench with major injuries, senior Peyton Guice returned to the court during Ohio's game at Ohio State. Since then, Guice has started in three games. Since her return, Guice has played in 20 games, making 11 starts. Guice recorded a career-best six rebounds against NIU (1/10) and Ball State (2/17).
 
TEAM STATISTIC CATEGORY LEADERS (TOP 3)
Points: Bailey Tabeling (232), Kennedi Watkins (228), Jaya McClure (216)
Rebounds: Laylay Fantroy (92), Madi Mace (92), Monica Williams (83), Kennedi Watkins (77)
Assists: Monica Williams (56), Jaya McClure (55), Madi Mace (35)
Blocks: Kennedi Watkins (11), Kate Dennis (7), Laylay Fantroy (5)
Steals: Laylay Fantroy (45), Bailey Tabeling (38), Kennedi Watkins (30)
 
MAC WOMEN'S BASKETBALL STATISTIC LEADERS (Thru 2/26)
Team Rankings (Top 5):
3PT FGs Made - 2nd (180)
3PT FGs Made Per Game - 2nd (7.2)
Turnover Margin - 5th (1.96)
Turnovers Forced Per Game - 1st (21.3)
Total Steals - 2nd (264)
Steals Per Game - 2nd (10.56)
 
Individual Rankings (Top 10):
3PT Field Goal Percentage - Bailey Tabeling, 3rd (.431)
3PT FGs Made - Bailey Tabeling, 3rd (56)
3PT FGs Made Per Game - Bailey Tabeling, 3rd (2.2)
Total Steals - Laylay Fantroy, 5th (45); Bailey Tabeling, 7th (38)
Steals Per Game - Laylay Fantroy, 5th (2.0); Bailey Tabeling, 9th (1.5)
 
Game-High Stats (Top 3):
Team 3PT FG Attempts - 2nd (39), Ohio vs. Buffalo (1/31/24); 3rd (37),
Ohio at Bowling Green (2/7/24)
Team Steals - 1st (20), Ohio at Central Michigan (1/24/24)
Individual 3PT FF Attempts - Bailey Tabeling, 2nd (15); Ohio vs. Buffalo (1/31/24)
Individual 3PT FGs Made - Bailey Tabeling, 2nd (7); Ohio vs. Syracuse (12/9/23)
Individual Steals - Laylay Fantroy, 3rd (6); Ohio at App State (11/11/23)
 
OHIO IN THE NCAA STATISTIC RANKINGS (Thru 2/25)
Team Rankings (Top 25):
3PT FG Attempts Per Game, 19th
Turnovers Forced Per Game, 11th
 
Individual Rankings (Top 25):
3PT Field Goal Percentage - Bailey Tabeling, 15th
 
UP NEXT
The Bobcats will be back in action in the Convocation Center against Central Michigan on Saturday, March 2. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m. ET and the game will be available to watch on ESPN+.
 
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