Sam Saccone / Staff Photographer / ss324006@ohiou.edu

Junior guard Jenny Poff passes during Ohio’s 68-61 win over the Ohio Girl’s Basketball Magazine Legends on Oct. 31 at The Convo. The Bobcats kick off their regular season tonight at Navy.

Chandra Myers understands the importance of establishing the inside game early.

The senior center knows defenses will collapse on Ohio’s inside players, creating open shots for the guards on the perimeter.

“Once we establish the outside game, (defenders) have to decide who they want to guard,” Myers said. “Whether they want to give up two points in the paint or if they want to give up three points on the arc.”

Guards, such as junior Jenny Poff, benefit from the post players’ early success in games. They try to feed the post players early and often.

“With (Myers) being 6 feet 4 inches tall and other posts having great hands and great moves, if they can get going early, it really opens up the court for the guards,” Poff said.

Myers should expect the ball often in the Bobcats’ first regular season game at Navy.

“We are definitely going to try to get the ball inside,” coach Semeka Randall said. “Our posts are, right now, doing a decent job of stepping and taking on that ownership.”

The Bobcats will be tested by the post play of Navy, especially sophomore center Cassie Consedine. She was 19th in the NCAA last season in blocks per game, averaging 2.5. She also averaged 8.4 rebounds per game, which ranked 80th in the country.

In addition to her inside presence, Consedine can play around the perimeter. She led the team last season in 3-pointers made with 26.

“(Navy) is going to try to go inside to their best player,” Randall said. “(Consedine) is going to come in and take care of business.”

The game against Navy is the start of an eight-game road trip for Ohio. The Bobcats start the season playing nine of 11 games on the road.

“It’s our first away game, (the freshmen’s) first game,” Poff said. “So it’s going to be exciting, but at the same time, we’re trying to stay focused. That’s the biggest thing.”

Randall expects nerves to play a role for the freshmen, but she is not too concerned about them.

“It’s going to be just like our first exhibition game,” Randall said. “A little nervousness at first, and they will figure out it’s just like any game. You put your uniform on just like the opponents.

“Once they get comfortable and calm, it’ll be just like any other basketball game.”