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ATHENS, Ohio – And just like that, it's the final week of February! Ohio swim and dive and indoor track and field are both set for their 2026 MAC Championships, while Ohio men's and women's basketball wind down the regular season, with baseball set to open their home schedule this weekend. Check out everything that's ahead for Ohio Athletics in this week's Paw Prints, presented by Memorial Health System.
MEN'S BASKETBALL
Feb. 28 / vs Toledo / Athens, Ohio / Convocation Center / 4 p.m. ET / ESPN+ / Watch / Live Stats / Listen / Ohio Notes / Toledo Notes / Roster Card / Digital Guide / Tickets / Senior Night
The Ohio men's basketball team (15-13, 9-6 MAC) are back in action this Saturday, Feb. 28 when the Bobcats host Toledo (14-13, 8-6 MAC) for Senior Day. Tip-off is set for 4 p.m. ET inside the Convocation Center and can be seen on ESPN+. Prior to tip-off, the Bobcats will honor its six senior managers and five senior student athletes for their time representing Ohio men's basketball.
The Bobcats' matchup can also be heard on the Ohio Sports Network from Learfield, presented by Holzer Health System. Jason Toy begins his second season on the mic for the Bobcats and will be joined by veteran and will be joined by veteran college basketball analyst Dave Cecutti. WXTQ (Power 105) in Athens returns as the 11-station net- work's flagship and can be heard on the Varsity Network App.
Ohio is coming off a 2-0 week that saw the Bobcats defeat Ball State at home, before heading to DeKalb on Saturday to defeat Northern Illinois. Redshirt junior forward Javan Simmons helped lead the Ohio men's basketball team this past week to two important wins that helped the Bobcats clinch a spot in the 2026 MAC Tournament. Overall, Simmons averaged 16.0 points and 6.0 rebounds a game, while also averaging 2.0 assist, 2.0 steals and 1.5 blocks a game. Overall, he went 11-of-14 (.786) from the field, 1-of-1 from three and 9-of-14 from the line. Simmons was back in action on Saturday at Northern Illinois, scoring a game-high 23 points, going 9-of-10 from the field and 5-of-10 from the line. He also grabbed seven rebounds, dished out two assists, had three steals and three blocks in the Bobcats 74-66 win. The win helped the Bobcats clinch a return trip to Cleveland for the seventh-straight year.
Toledo is currently 11-13 overall and 8-6 in conference play and are coming off a 94-75 win at home against Eastern Michigan on Saturday. Toledo is led by Sonny Wilson with 17.2 points and 4.5 assists per game, while shooting 49.6 percent from the field and 38.8 percent from three. Leroy Blyden, Jr. adds 15.8 points and 4.2 assists per game, while shooting 44.3 percent from the field and 41.4 percent from three, while Sean Craig adds 12.0 points and 7.4 rebounds a game. Toledo defeated the Bobcats earlier this season in Toledo.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Feb. 25 / vs. Bowling Green / Athens, Ohio / Convocation Center / 7 p.m. ET / ESPN+ / Watch / Live Stats / Ohio Notes / BGSU Notes / Digital Guide / Tickets
Feb. 28 / at Ball State / Muncie, Ind. / Worthen Arena / 1 p.m. ET / ESPN+ / Watch / Live Stats / Ohio Notes / Ball State Notes / Digital Guide
The Ohio women's basketball team (15-10, 9-5 MAC) is back in action for two games this week when the Bobcats host Bowling Green (15-12, 7-8 MAC) on Wednesday, Feb. 25. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. ET inside the Convocation Center and can be seen on ESPN+. Ohio is back on the road on Saturday, Feb. 28 when the Bobcats head to Muncie, Ind. to take on Ball State (22-6, 13-2 MAC). Tip-off is set for 1 p.m. ET inside Worthen Arena and can be seen on ESPN+.
Ohio is coming off an 0-1 week that saw the Bobcats fall at Akron in double overtime. Five Bobcats finished with double figure points. Junior Bailey Tabeling led the team in scoring with a season-high 25 points; shooting 9-for-21 from the field, 5-for-12 from the arc and 2-for-2 from the line. Freshman ReRe Jennings scored a career-high 19 points; shooting 9-for-14 from the field. Sophomore Gigi Bower tallied 16 points; shooting 6-for-9 from the field and 3-for-6 from the arc. Graduate student Aliah McWhorter recorded 14 points and redshirt sophomore Monica Williams tallied 10 points.
Bowling Green is currently 15-12 overall and 7-9 in MAC play and are coming off a loss at Toledo on Saturday. Paige Kohler leads BGSU with 14.7 points and 3.0 assists per game, while shooting 37.1 percent from the field and 32.4 percent from three. Johnea Donahue adds 11.4 points and 5.5 rebounds a game, while Lauren Gerken adds 9.2 points and is shooting 35.0 percent from the field. Ohio defeated the Falcons earlier the season on the road.
Ball State is currently 22-6 overall and 13-2 in MAC play and are coming off a four-point loss at Miami on Saturday and will take on Akron at home before hosting the Bobcats. Bree Salenblen leads the Cardinals with 15.7 points and 7.4 rebounds a game, while shooting 46.0 percent from the field and 82.0 percent from the line. Tessa Towers adds 14.8 points and 8.2 rebounds a game, while Grace Kingery averages 13.2 points a game, while shooting 45.8 percent from the line.
SWIM AND DIVE
Feb. 25-28 / at 2026 Mid-American Conference Championships / Akron, Ohio / Oliver J. Ocasek Natatorium / Prelims: 10 a.m. ET/ Finals: 6 p.m. ET / ESPN+ / Watch / Championship Central / Tickets
The Ohio swim and dive team are set for the 2026 Mid-American Conference Chapionships Feb. 25-28. This year's event is hosted by Akron at the Oliver J. Ocasek Natatorium in Akron, Ohio. Competition on Wednesday, Feb. 25 begins at 6 p.m. ET with 200 medley relay and the 800 free relay. The Bobcats return to action on Thursday, Feb. 26 at 10 a.m. ET for prelims, with finals set to begin at 6 p.m. ET. The same schedule goes for Friday and Saturday's competition, with a champion to be crowned at Saturday night's finals. The Championship Award Ceremony is set to begin at 8:55 p.m. ET. Every session will be streamed on ESPN+.
Ohio looks to improve on last year's second-place finish, in hopes to dethrone Akron as this year's Champion. Senior Casadie DiBetta and junior Zita Szoke look to defend their MAC Titles from a year ago.
The Bobcats last competed as a full team Jan. 30-31 at Akron, with the Zips winning, 239-171. Junior Astrid Pichardo earned Diver of the Week honors for the second time this season for her efforts in Ohio's meet against Akron. Individually, Pichardo placed first in both the 1-meter and 3-meter diving events. Pichardo left Akron with new personal records in both events, with a 1-m score of 297.45 and a 3m score of 327.15, and led the Bobcats' diving efforts over the weekend.
TRACK AND FIELD
Feb. 27-28 / at 2026 Mid-American Conference Championships/ Mount Pleasant, Mich. / Jack Skoog Track/ 10 a.m. ET / Live Results / Championship Central / Tickets
Ohio track and field heads to Mount Pleasant, Mich. for the 2026 Mid-American Conference Championship, Feb. 27-28 at the Jack Skoog Track. Competition begins at 10 a.m. ET on Friday, February. 27, before concluding on Saturday, Feb. 28. Events are set to begin at 10 a.m. ET with the final awards ceremony scheduled for 4 p.m. ET on Saturday.
The Bobcats are looking to improve on last year's eighth-place finish.
Ohio is coming off a final weekend at the Akron Invitational on Feb. 21. Junior Jada Irwin led Ohio in the women's 400m with a second-place time of 56.42. Senior Ashley Long took home fifth place with a PR of. 57.94 and junior Elinor Shuttleworth came in eighth place (58.13). Long also finished seventh in the women's 200m with a PR of 25.41. Ohio had four athletes place in the top 10 of the women's mile. Freshman Ava Beeks led the way with a second-place and personal-best time of 5:05.02. Freshman Savana Miller followed behind in third place with a time of 5:08.01. Freshmen Adelyn Tager and Samantha Shreve placed sixth (5:25.91) and eighth (5:30.25), respectively.
Senior Alyssa Mason won the women's 3,000 meters with a time of 9:57.02. Sophomore Sophie Lane (Hilliard, Ohio) took home third place with a time of 10:36.15.
BASEBALL
Feb. 25 / at West Virginia / Morgantown, W.Va. / Wagener Field at Kendrick Family Ballpark / 1p.m. ET / ESPN+ / Watch / Live Stats
Feb. 27 / vs Dayton / Athens, Ohio / Bob Wren Stadium / 3 p.m. ET / ESPN+ / Watch / Live Stats / Tickets
Feb. 28 / vs Dayton / Athens, Ohio / Bob Wren Stadium / 1 p.m. ET / YouTube / Watch / Live Stats / Tickets
March 1 / at Dayton / Dayton, Ohio / Woerner Field at AES Ohio Stadium / 3 p.m. ET / ESPN+ / Watch / Live Stats
The Ohio baseball team (1-6) is back in action for four games this week. The week begins on Wednesday, February. 25 when the Bobcats head to Morgantown, W. Va. to take on West Virginia (5-1). First pitch is set for 1 p.m. ET at Wagener Field at Kendrick Family Ballpark and can be seen on ESPN+. The Bobcats then return to Athens to open their home slate on Friday, February. 27 when the Bobcats host Dayton (4-2) at 3 p.m. ET at Bob Wren Stadium. The game can be seen pn ESPN+. Ohio and Dayton are back in action on Saturday, Feb. 28 at 1 p.m. ET at Bob Wren Stadium and can be seen on YouTube. Ohio and Dayton continue the series on Sunday, March 1 when the Bobcats head to Dayton to take on the Flyers. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. ET at Woerner Field at AES Ohio Stadium and can be seen on ESPN+.
Ohio is coming off a series sweep at Tennessee Tech. last weekend. Senior Dylan Shepherd led the Bobcats at the plate, hitting .429 with three hits, one double and three RBI, while fifth year Will Henson hit .353 with six hits, two RBI and one run scored.
West Virginia is 5-1 overall and is coming off a series win against Liberty on the road this past weekend. WVU was picked third in the Big 12 Preseason Poll. It is the highest predicted finish for WVU since joining the Big 12 in 2013.Junior right-handed pitcher Chase Meyer represented the Mountaineers on the Preseason All-Big 12 Team. In 2025, Meyer went 9-2 with a 3.94 ERA and 63 strikeouts in 48.0 innings while holding opponents to a .192 batting average.
Dayton is 4-2 overall and is coming off a series win at home against Eastern Kentucky this past weekend. The Flyers will host Toledo on Wednesday before starting the four-game series with the Bobcats. The Flyers were selected to finish fifth in the A-10 Preseason Poll. Dayton features a mostly new roster, returning just two position players and one weekend starting pitcher. Jayson King has also returned as head coach after a year at Vanderbilt.
SOFTBALL
Feb. 27 / at 2026 Governors Classic / vs. Stonehill / Clarksville, Tenn. / Cathi Maynard Park / 11 a.m. ET / Live Stats
Feb. 27 / at 2026 Governors Classic / vs. Southern Indiana / Clarksville, Tenn. / Cathi Maynard Park / 6:30 p.m. ET / Live Stats
Feb. 28 / at 2026 Governors Classic / vs. Austin Peay / Clarksville, Tenn. / Cathi Maynard Park / 4 p.m. ET / ESPN+ / Watch / Live Stats
Feb. 28 / at 2026 Governors Classic / vs. Stonehill / Clarksville, Tenn. / Cathi Maynard Park / 6:30 p.m. ET / Live Stats
March 1 at 2026 Governors Classic / vs. Belmont / Nashville, Tenn. / E.S. Rose Park / 1 p.m. ET / Live Stats
The Ohio softball team (9-5) is back in action Feb. 27-March 1 when they head to Tennessee for the 2026 Governors Classic hosted by Austin Peay and Belmont. The weekend begins on Friday, February. 27 when the Bobcats are in Clarksville to take on Stonehill (0-5) at 11 a.m. ET and Southern Indiana (3-9) at 6:30 p.m. ET. Ohio is back in action on Saturday, Feb. 28 when they take on host Austin Peay (7-8) at 4 p.m. ET on ESPN+, before taking on Stonehill at 6:30 p.m. ET. Ohio concludes the weekend on Sunday, March 1 when Ohio heads to Nashville, Tennessee. to take on Belmont () at E.S. Rose Park.
Ohio is coming off a 2-3 weekend at teh UCF Space U Classic in Orlando, Fla., where Ohio defeated Notre Dame and Charleston Southern. Senior second baseman Colleen Bare hit .429 with six hits, one triple, four runs scored and three RBI. She recorded a .571 slugging percentage, a 1.274 OPS and a .579 on base percentage. She drew five walks and stole one base, and did not commit an error in the field, recording 14 putout and five assists. Graduate student pitcher Skipp Miller appeared in three games, making two starts and going 2-1 on the weekend. She recorded a 2.19 ERA, allowing five runs on 14 hits, walked eight and struck out 12, while opponents hit .241 off her.
Stonehill is currently 0-5 and is coming off a season-opening trip to the FAU Paradise Classic where they competed against Wisconsin, Delaware, Indiana and FAU. Juli Murillo led Stonehill on the weekend, hitting .300 with three hits and a run scored.
Southern Indiana is 3-9 overall and is coming off a 1-4 weened at the FAU Joan Joyce Classic where they competed against Kansas, FAU, UMass and Villanova. At the plate, Southern Indiana is led by Katelyn Marx who is hitting .361 with 13 hits and seven runs scored, while Caroline Stapleton is hitting .333 with 13 hits, 10 runs scored, one double and one triple.
Austin Peay is 7-8 overall and is coming off a 2-3 weekend at the Bearkat Invitational in Huntsville, Texas. While there, Austin Peay competed against Prairie View A&M, Sam Houston and Houston Christian. They are led at the plate by Emilee Baker who is hitting .423 with 22 hits, 15 runs scored, on triple and two RBI, while Natalie Burns is hitting .361 with four doubles, two home runs and five RBI. Brie Howard leads the team with five home runs and 20 RBI. In the circle, Alanah Jones is 4-3 with a 2.93 ERA and 36 strikeouts.
Belmont is 8-5 overall and is coming off a 3-1 weekend at the Bulldog Invitational in Starkville, Miss. While there, they competed against Delaware State, Mississippi State and Samford, with Belmont taking down No. 14 Mississippi State, 1-0, Friday night. Belmont will host Central Michigan for a doubleheader on Friday before hosting Southern Indiana and Ohio. At the plate, Rylee Spindler leads with a .537 batting average, recording 22 hits, six doubles, one triple, on home run and eight RBI. In the circle, Maya Johnson is 6-0 with a 0.83 ERA, allowing only five runs and striking out 84 in 42.0 innings.
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