ATHENS, Ohio – The Ohio women's basketball team (11-17, 8-9 MAC) will travel to Miami (8-20, 5-12 MAC) for its regular-season finale on Saturday, March 9. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m. ET and the game will be available to watch on ESPN+.
 
SCOUTING MIAMI
Heading into its matchup with Ohio, Miami has a 8-20 overall and 5-12 conference record. Miami averages 53.4 points per game; shooting 37.5 percent from the field, 29.2 percent from the arc and 70.7 percent from the line. Miami averages 33.2 rebounds, 11.5 assists and 8.5 steals per game. The Redhawks have forced 16.8 turnovers per game and average 14.3 points off turnovers.
 
Opponents average 63.8 points per game; shooting 39.8 percent from the field, 33.3 percent from the arc and 68.9 percent from the line. Opponents average 37.6 rebounds, 13.7 assists and 9.4 steals per game. Opponents have forced Miami to give up 18.8 turnovers per game and average 16.8 points off turnovers.
 
Jadyn Scott leads Miami in scoring with 290 points. Amber Tretter has grabbed a team-high 211 rebounds while Cori Lard ranks first on the team with 77 assists and 61 steals.
 
SCOUTING OHIO
The Bobcats are 11-17 overall and 8-9 in conference play heading into their game with Miami. Ohio averages 64.2 points per game; shooting 39.4 percent from the field, 28.6 percent from the arc and 68.3 percent from the line. Ohio averages 31.4 rebounds, 11.4 assists and 11 steals per game. The Bobcats have forced 21.4 turnovers per game and average 19.2 points off turnovers.
 
Meanwhile, opponents average 71.4 points per game; shooting 42.3 percent from the field, 30.7 percent from the arc and 72.8 percent from the line. Opponents average 42.2 rebounds, 15 assists and 9.1 steals per game. Opponents have forced Ohio to give up 18.9 turnovers per game and have scored an average of 19.2 points off turnovers.
 
Kennedi Watkins leads the team in scoring with 271 points. Laylay Fantroy has grabbed a team-high 104 rebounds and recorded a team-high 51 steals. Jaya McClure ranks first on the team with 71 assists.
 
LAST TIME VS MIAMI
Ohio and Miami met earlier this season with the Bobcats earning a 71-55 win over the Redhawks.
 
ALL TIME VS MIAMI
The Bobcats trail in their series with Miami 38-58 and have won eight of the last 10 matchups.
 
LAST TIME OUT
The Ohio women's basketball team (11-17, 8-9 MAC) clinched its spot in the 2024 Mid-American Conference Tournament with a 72-63 victory at Akron (10-18, 5-12 MAC) on Wednesday, March 6.
 
The team shot 46.9 percent from the field, 46.7 percent from the arc and 73.1 percent from the line. Ohio grabbed a total of 34 rebounds, distributed 12 assists and earned 11 steals.
 
Junior Kennedi Watkins (Ballwin, Mo.) led the Bobcats in scoring with a career-high 24 points; finishing eight-for-15 from the field, two-for-three from the arc and six-for-six from the line. Watkins also recorded five rebounds, three steals and two assists. Sophomore Jaya McClure (Louisville, Ky.) was also a top performer for Ohio as she earned 16 points, four rebounds and a team-high three assists. On the boards, senior Bengisu Alper (Istanbul, Turkey) led the Bobcats with a team-high six rebounds.
 
The scoring got off to a slow start for both teams, but Ohio was able to create multiple opportunities off solid defensive stops. The Bobcats finished the first quarter with 11 rebounds, nine on defense, and three steals. After 10 minutes, Ohio led Akron 15-9 behind six points from Watkins.
 
The second quarter started off strong for the Bobcats as they forced a four-minute scoring drought from Akron. However, too many turnovers and inability to finish on offense plagued Ohio in the second half of the quarter. This allowed Akron to make a big comeback and challenge Ohio's lead. Heading into the locker room, the Bobcats held a 29-26 lead over the Zips.
 
Ohio and Akron went back-and-forth throughout the third quarter. The Bobcats were challenged as they fought to regain their lead. After a couple missteps, Ohio found its groove and pulled away slightly from the Zips. With less than a minute to go, the Bobcats maintained a 10-point lead over Akron. Ohio was up 53-43 heading into the final quarter of the game.
 
It was an exciting fourth quarter as both teams displayed a lot of energy and intensity. With 19 points, five steals and six rebounds in the final 10 minutes of play, the Bobcats solidified their 72-63 win over Akron.
 
BOBCATS CLINCH SPOT IN CLEVELAND
With their 72-63 win at Akron, the Bobcats clinched a spot in the 2024 MAC Tournament Cleveland. Seeding for the tournament will be announced following the conclusion of regular season competition. The eight teams set to compete in Cleveland are Toledo, Ball State, Kent State, Buffalo, Bowling Green, Ohio, Western Michigan and Northern Illinois.
 
SHARING THE WEALTH ON OFFENSE
Ohio has five players who have recorded 200 or more points throughout this season and three other players have scored over 100 points this season. Five Bobcats have recorded 10 or more double figure point games this 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 played started in 15 of 29 games, amassing 261 points.McClure ranks second on the team for points, first for assists and has recorded 13 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). McClure led the team with 19 points and a career-high seven rebounds versus Central Michigan (3/2)
 
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). In the team's victory at Akron, Watkins led Ohio with a career-best 26 points. Watkins has tallied 271 points so far this season, ranks first on the team for scoring and has recorded 15 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 11.3 points, 3.7 rebounds per game and has tallied 12 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 ranks second on the team for rebounds and has netted 144 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 27 games this season. Dennis has played 620 minutes for the Bobcats - averaging 22.9 minutes per game - tallied 168 points, 51 rebounds, 15 steals and eight blocks. She has only recorded 21 turnovers across 27 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 22nd in the NCAA for 3PT FG percentage and has the second-best single-game performance for 3FGs made so far this season. Tabeling ranks third on the team for points with 253 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 28 games this season.
 
Williams ranks second on the team for assists, third for steals, rebounds, blocks and fourth for points. Williams tallied a career-high five assists in Ohio's wins over IUPUI (11/26) and Central Michigan (3/2). 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. She also recorded a career-best three blocks versus Kent State (2/21). Against Central Michigan (3/2), Williams recorded a career-high seven steals and is tied third for one of the best single-game steal performances in program history.
 
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 50 steals, ranks first in rebounds and fifth in points. Fantroy is currently third in the MAC for steals per game and fifth for total steals. Fantroy made her first career start at Ball State (2/3) and recorded a career-high 24 points versus Texas State (2/10).
 
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 22 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: Kennedi Watkins (271), Jaya McClure (261), Bailey Tabeling (253)
Rebounds: Laylay Fantroy (104), Madi Mace (98), Monica Williams (95)
Assists: Jaya McClure (71), Monica Williams (65), Madi Mace (38)
Blocks: Kennedi Watkins (12), Kate Dennis (8), Monica Williams (6)
Steals: Laylay Fantroy (51), Bailey Tabeling (46), Monica Williams (40)
 
MAC WOMEN'S BASKETBALL STATISTIC LEADERS (Thru 3/7)
Team Rankings (Top 5):
3PT FGs Made - 5th (198)
3PT FGs Made Per Game - 4th (7.1)
Free Throws Made - 5th (327)
Turnover Margin - 4th (2.50)
Turnovers Forced Per Game - 1st (21.4)
Total Steals - 2nd (307)
Steals Per Game - 1st (10.96)
 
Individual Rankings (Top 10):
3PT Field Goal Percentage - Bailey Tabeling, 3rd (.424)
3PT FGs Made - Bailey Tabeling, 3rd (61)
3PT FGs Made Per Game - Bailey Tabeling, 3rd (2.2)
Total Steals - Laylay Fantroy, 5th (51); Bailey Tabeling, 7th (46)
Steals Per Game - Laylay Fantroy, 3rd (2.0); Bailey Tabeling, 7th (1.6)
 
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 (21), Ohio vs. Central Michigan (3/2/24); 2nd (20), Ohio at Central Michigan (1/24/24)
Individual 3PT FGs 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 - Monica Williams, 3rd (7); Ohio vs. Central Michigan (3/2/24)
 
OHIO IN THE NCAA STATISTIC RANKINGS (Thru 3/6)
Team Rankings (Top 25):
Steals Per Game, 18th
Turnovers Forced Per Game, 10th
 
Individual Rankings (Top 25):
3PT Field Goal Percentage - Bailey Tabeling, 22nd
 
UP NEXT
The Bobcats will begin postseason competition on Wednesday, March 13 at the MAC Tournament in Cleveland, Ohio. More information regarding seeding and game times will be announced after the conclusion of the regular season.
 
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