Sports
‘Cats Look To Continue Hot Shooting Against Zips
< < Back to cats-look-continue-hot-shooting-against-zipsThe Ohio Bobcats have shown that they love to get out and establish their offensive game plan, but for Thursday’s game against the Akron Zips, that is the only priority. The Zips bring in an offense that is averaging over 81 points per game and has two of the nation’s top 15 scorers.
Rachel Tecca and Hanna Luburgh both sit inside the top-15 in the nation in scoring. Tecca is a six-foot-one forward who is averaging 23.6 points per game and she is coming off of her fourth double-double of the season against Kent State last Saturday.
Luburgh, on the other hand, is a 5-foot-10 guard who is averaging 22.7 points per game. The Zips also have a dangerous point guard named Kacie Cassell, who led the nation in assists last season, dishing out nearly 8 dimes per game. Her numbers are down a little bit this season, but she is still inside the nation’s top-25 in assists, averaging just under six assists per game. She also set the program’s single season assist record 21 games into her junior year.
Both teams know they can score. The ‘Cats are the smaller team, but they have been the smaller team in most of their matchups so far this season. Ohio needs to keep their motion offense moving if they want to establish any offensive rhythm.
When it comes to defense, the Bobcats need to outshoot the Zips. No one has stopped the scoring duo in Luburgh and Tecca all season and the Bobcat defense hasn’t proved they are capable of doing that. Ohio has to do all the little things right on offense. They especially have to make their free throws, which has been one of Ohio’s biggest problems all season.
The Zips have faced some similar opposition to the Bobcats in MAC East rivals Ball State, Kent State, and Miami. The Zips are 2-1 in those matchups with wins over Ball State and Kent State. However, the ‘Cats have wins over Miami and Kent State.
For head coach Bob Boldon, he will be returning to Akron where he was an assistant under current Akron head coach Jodi Kest. Boldon coached the Zips from 2006-2008 before taking his second head coaching job with the Lambuth Eagles.
The Bobcats are looking to bounce back after a devastating loss to Ball State, while Akron looks to continue down the winning path and pick up their second victory in a row. Both teams love their offensive possessions, but Ohio need to make the most of every opportunity if they want to keep a winning record. Tip-off is schedule for Thursday at 7 p.m. in Akron.