The 2020–21 Ohio Bobcats women's basketball team represented Ohio University during the 2020–21 NCAA Division I women's basketball season. The Bobcats, led by eighth-year head coach Bob Boldon, played their home games at the Convocation Center in Athens, Ohio as a member of the Mid-American Conference.
This season was played during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, schedules were shortened and consolidated, and most games were played without general fan attendance.
Ohio opened the non-conference slate of games with a win over Liberty and upset of national power Notre Dame. They were named NCAA Team of the Week for their first week effort.
They finished the season 15-10, 11-6 in MAC play. They finished 3rd overall in the MAC. They advanced to the semi-finals of the MAC women's tournament, where they lost to Central Michigan. They received an at-large bid to the WNIT, where they lost to Clemson, defeated Fordham, and lost to Massachusetts. Ohio was led by their point guard Cece Hooks, who was named MAC player of the year.
Offseason Departures DeparturesKatie Barker2G5'10RS juniorCary, IllinoisGraduatedAmani Burke3G5'9RS seniorCary, IllinoisGraduated, exhasted eligibility
2020 recruiting class
Recruiting classKate Dennis14G6'1GuilfordRockford, IllinoisKendall Hale22G5'8West ClemontCincinnati, Ohio
Preseason Ohio was picked second in the MAC preseason poll. Cece Hooks and Erica Johnson were named to the preseason first team all-conference.
Preseason rankings
MAC preseason poll 1 Central Michigan 142 (10) 2 Ohio 128 3 Ball State 119 (1) 4 Buffalo 108 (1) 5 Eastern Michigan 94 6 Kent State 88 7 Toledo 71 8 Northern Illinois 42 9 Miami 41 10 Akron 39 11 Bowling Green 38 12 Western Michigan 28 MAC Tournament Champion: Central Michigan (6), Ohio (3), Buffalo (1), Ball State (1), EMU (1) Source
Preseason All-MAC Preseason All-MAC teamsPreseason All-MAC 1st teamCece HooksGSr.Preseason All-MAC 1st teamErica JohnsonGR-Jr. Source
Award watch lists Preseason award honorsNancy Lieberman AwardCece HooksGSr.Cheryl Miller AwardErica JohnsonGR-Jr.Becky Hammon AwardCece HooksGSr.Becky Hammon AwardErica JohnsonGR-Jr.
Roster
Schedule
!colspan=9 style="| Non-conference regular season
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Awards and honors
Weekly awards Weekly award honors MAC Player of the Week Cece Hooks G December 1 MAC Player of the Week Cece Hooks G January 12 MAC Player of the Week Cece Hooks G January 26 MAC Player of the Week Cece Hooks G February 2 MAC Player of the Week Cece Hooks G March 8
Midseason awards watchlists Midseason award honors Becky Hammon Award Cece Hooks G Sr. Becky Hammon Award Erica Johnson G R-Jr.
All-MAC awards Postseason All-MAC teamsMAC Player of the YearCece HooksGSr.MAC Defensive Player of the YearCece HooksGSr.MAC 1st TeamCece HooksGSr.MAC 3rd TeamErica JohnsonGR-Jr.MAC Honorable MentionGabby BurrisFSr.MAC Freshman TeamMadi MaceGR-Fr.MAC Defensive TeamCece HooksGSr. Source
National awards National award honors Honorable Mention All-American Cece Hooks G
Rankings
*AP does not release post-NCAA Tournament rankings.^Coaches do not release a Week 1 poll.
Source
References