Leia Smith
-
- Height:
- 5-10
-
- Hometown:
- North Ridgeville
-
- Position:
- G/F
-
- Year:
- So.
-
- High School:
- North Ridgeville
-
- gp
- 18
-
- pts/g
- 7.0
-
- fg %
- 40.6
-
- 3pt %
- 33.3
-
- ft %
- 80.9
-
- reb/g
- 4.1
-
- a/g
- 1.5
Bio
2021-22
- Played in 18 games with 13 starts
- Averaged a career high 7.0 points per game
- Grabbed 4.1 rebounds per contest
- Dished out 1.5 assists per game
2020-21
- Played in nine games
- Averaged 21.3 minutes per game
- Averaged 6.9 points per game
- Finished with 41 rebounds, seven steals, nine assists, and 10 blocks
- Ended year shooting 39.3% from the field
- Notched a career-high 14 points against Otterbein and John Carroll
Personal
- Interdisciplinary major
- Daughter of Matt and April Smith
|   | Overall | Conference |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 18 | 11 |
| Games started | 13 | 6 |
| Minutes | 416 | 270 |
| Minutes per game | 23.1 | 24.5 |
| FG | 39-96 | 18-56 |
| FG Pct | 40.6 | 32.1 |
| 3PT | 10-30 | 4-14 |
| 3PT Pct | 33.3 | 28.6 |
| FT | 38-47 | 26-32 |
| FT Pct | 80.9 | 81.3 |
| Off rebounds | 25 | 16 |
| Def rebounds | 49 | 28 |
| Total rebounds | 74 | 44 |
| Rebounds per game | 4.1 | 4.0 |
| Personal fouls | 44 | 28 |
| Disqualifications | 0 | 0 |
| Assists | 27 | 16 |
| Turnovers | 23 | 15 |
| Assist to turnover ratio | 1.2 | 1.1 |
| Steals | 15 | 7 |
| Blocks | 8 | 4 |
| Points | 126 | 66 |
| Points per game | 7.0 | 6.0 |
| Points per 40 min | 12.1 | 9.8 |
| Date | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Feb 9 | at Wilmington (Ohio) | L, 79-63 |
| Feb 12 | #10 Baldwin Wallace | L, 63-50 |
| Feb 16 | at Mount Union | L, 84-71 |
| Feb 19 | at Ohio Northern | L, 73-56 |
| Feb 21 | Heidelberg | W, 56-40 |
| Feb 22 | at #14 Baldwin Wallace | L, 91-42 |
Game Log - Shooting
| Date | Opponent | Score | gs | min | fg | pct | 3pt | pct | ft | pct | pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 5 | Thiel | W, 96-62 | 1 | 16 | 4-8 | 50.0 | 2-3 | 66.7 | 1-2 | 50.0 | 11 |
| Nov 6 | Bethany (W.V.) | W, 77-69 | 1 | 25 | 4-9 | 44.4 | 2-5 | 40.0 | 1-1 | 100.0 | 11 |
| Nov 13 | at Earlham | W, 100-67 | 1 | 19 | 3-5 | 60.0 | 1-2 | 50.0 | 2-2 | 100.0 | 9 |
| Nov 17 | Wittenberg | W, 76-72 | 1 | 20 | 1-2 | 50.0 | 0-0 | - | 3-4 | 75.0 | 5 |
| Nov 23 | at Oberlin | L, 70-65 | 1 | 21 | 2-4 | 50.0 | 1-3 | 33.3 | 0-0 | - | 5 |
| Nov 27 | at Kenyon | L, 83-77 | 1 | 26 | 4-8 | 50.0 | 0-3 | 0.0 | 4-4 | 100.0 | 12 |
| Dec 4 | #3 John Carroll | L, 76-68 | 0 | 25 | 1-7 | 14.3 | 1-1 | 100.0 | 3-4 | 75.0 | 6 |
| Dec 8 | Capital | W, 68-59 | - | 22 | 3-8 | 37.5 | 0-1 | 0.0 | 3-3 | 100.0 | 9 |
| Dec 11 | at Otterbein | L, 70-56 | - | 19 | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0-1 | 0.0 | 3-4 | 75.0 | 3 |
| Dec 18 | Heidelberg | W, 42-39 | 1 | 21 | 1-2 | 50.0 | 0-0 | - | 3-4 | 75.0 | 5 |
| Dec 20 | Mt. St. Joseph | W, 90-69 | 1 | 19 | 3-4 | 75.0 | 0-0 | - | 1-2 | 50.0 | 7 |
| Jan 5 | at #24 Marietta | L, 94-72 | - | 31 | 4-8 | 50.0 | 2-3 | 66.7 | 2-2 | 100.0 | 12 |
| Jan 8 | at #17 Baldwin Wallace | L, 60-38 | - | 31 | 2-6 | 33.3 | 0-0 | - | 0-0 | - | 4 |
| Jan 12 | Wilmington (Ohio) | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Jan 15 | Ohio Northern | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Jan 19 | Mount Union | L, 66-48 | 1 | 21 | 1-4 | 25.0 | 0-2 | 0.0 | 2-3 | 66.7 | 4 |
| Jan 22 | at #12 John Carroll | L, 93-42 | 1 | 29 | 0-2 | 0.0 | 0-1 | 0.0 | 1-2 | 50.0 | 1 |
| Jan 26 | at Capital | W, 68-58 | 1 | 31 | 1-8 | 12.5 | 0-4 | 0.0 | 8-8 | 100.0 | 10 |
| Jan 29 | Otterbein | L, 73-63 | 1 | 34 | 4-9 | 44.4 | 0-0 | - | 1-2 | 50.0 | 9 |
| Feb 2 | Marietta | L, 91-73 | 1 | 6 | 1-1 | 100.0 | 1-1 | 100.0 | 0-0 | - | 3 |
| Feb 6 | at Heidelberg | W, 80-71 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Feb 9 | at Wilmington (Ohio) | L, 79-63 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Feb 12 | #10 Baldwin Wallace | L, 63-50 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Feb 16 | at Mount Union | L, 84-71 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Feb 19 | at Ohio Northern | L, 73-56 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Feb 21 | Heidelberg | W, 56-40 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Feb 22 | at #14 Baldwin Wallace | L, 91-42 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Game Log - Ball control
| Date | Opponent | Score | gs | min | off | def | reb | ast | to | stl | blk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 5 | Thiel | W, 96-62 | 1 | 16 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Nov 6 | Bethany (W.V.) | W, 77-69 | 1 | 25 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| Nov 13 | at Earlham | W, 100-67 | 1 | 19 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Nov 17 | Wittenberg | W, 76-72 | 1 | 20 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| Nov 23 | at Oberlin | L, 70-65 | 1 | 21 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Nov 27 | at Kenyon | L, 83-77 | 1 | 26 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Dec 4 | #3 John Carroll | L, 76-68 | 0 | 25 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Dec 8 | Capital | W, 68-59 | - | 22 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Dec 11 | at Otterbein | L, 70-56 | - | 19 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Dec 18 | Heidelberg | W, 42-39 | 1 | 21 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Dec 20 | Mt. St. Joseph | W, 90-69 | 1 | 19 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jan 5 | at #24 Marietta | L, 94-72 | - | 31 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Jan 8 | at #17 Baldwin Wallace | L, 60-38 | - | 31 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Jan 12 | Wilmington (Ohio) | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Jan 15 | Ohio Northern | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Jan 19 | Mount Union | L, 66-48 | 1 | 21 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jan 22 | at #12 John Carroll | L, 93-42 | 1 | 29 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Jan 26 | at Capital | W, 68-58 | 1 | 31 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Jan 29 | Otterbein | L, 73-63 | 1 | 34 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Feb 2 | Marietta | L, 91-73 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Feb 6 | at Heidelberg | W, 80-71 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Feb 9 | at Wilmington (Ohio) | L, 79-63 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Feb 12 | #10 Baldwin Wallace | L, 63-50 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Feb 16 | at Mount Union | L, 84-71 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Feb 19 | at Ohio Northern | L, 73-56 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Feb 21 | Heidelberg | W, 56-40 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Feb 22 | at #14 Baldwin Wallace | L, 91-42 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Game Log - Ball control extended
| Date | Opponent | Score | gs | pf | dq | a/to |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 5 | Thiel | W, 96-62 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0.0 |
| Nov 6 | Bethany (W.V.) | W, 77-69 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1.0 |
| Nov 13 | at Earlham | W, 100-67 | 1 | 3 | 0 | - |
| Nov 17 | Wittenberg | W, 76-72 | 1 | 4 | - | 0.0 |
| Nov 23 | at Oberlin | L, 70-65 | 1 | 2 | 0 | - |
| Nov 27 | at Kenyon | L, 83-77 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3.0 |
| Dec 4 | #3 John Carroll | L, 76-68 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3.0 |
| Dec 8 | Capital | W, 68-59 | - | 2 | 0 | 0.5 |
| Dec 11 | at Otterbein | L, 70-56 | - | 3 | 0 | 2.0 |
| Dec 18 | Heidelberg | W, 42-39 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1.0 |
| Dec 20 | Mt. St. Joseph | W, 90-69 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3.0 |
| Jan 5 | at #24 Marietta | L, 94-72 | - | 3 | 0 | 1.0 |
| Jan 8 | at #17 Baldwin Wallace | L, 60-38 | - | 1 | 0 | 0.0 |
| Jan 12 | Wilmington (Ohio) | - | - | - | - | |
| Jan 15 | Ohio Northern | - | - | - | - | |
| Jan 19 | Mount Union | L, 66-48 | 1 | 3 | 0 | - |
| Jan 22 | at #12 John Carroll | L, 93-42 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2.0 |
| Jan 26 | at Capital | W, 68-58 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1.0 |
| Jan 29 | Otterbein | L, 73-63 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0.5 |
| Feb 2 | Marietta | L, 91-73 | 1 | 1 | 0 | - |
| Feb 6 | at Heidelberg | W, 80-71 | - | - | - | - |
| Feb 9 | at Wilmington (Ohio) | L, 79-63 | - | - | - | - |
| Feb 12 | #10 Baldwin Wallace | L, 63-50 | - | - | - | - |
| Feb 16 | at Mount Union | L, 84-71 | - | - | - | - |
| Feb 19 | at Ohio Northern | L, 73-56 | - | - | - | - |
| Feb 21 | Heidelberg | W, 56-40 | - | - | - | - |
| Feb 22 | at #14 Baldwin Wallace | L, 91-42 | - | - | - | - |
| Statistic | gp | min/g | fg/g | 3pt/g | ft/g | ppg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Event | ||||||
| Total | 18 | 23.1 | 2.2-5.3 | 0.6-1.7 | 2.1-2.6 | 7.0 |
| Conference | 11 | 24.5 | 1.6-5.1 | 0.4-1.3 | 2.4-2.9 | 6.0 |
| Exhibition | - | - | 0.0-0.0 | 0.0-0.0 | 0.0-0.0 | - |
| Location | ||||||
| Home | 10 | 20.9 | 2.3-5.4 | 0.6-1.3 | 1.8-2.5 | 7.0 |
| Away | 8 | 25.9 | 2.0-5.2 | 0.5-2.1 | 2.5-2.8 | 7.0 |
| Neutral | - | - | 0.0-0.0 | 0.0-0.0 | 0.0-0.0 | - |
| Result | ||||||
| Wins | 8 | 21.6 | 2.5-5.8 | 0.6-1.9 | 2.8-3.2 | 8.4 |
| Losses | 10 | 24.3 | 1.9-5.0 | 0.5-1.5 | 1.6-2.1 | 5.9 |
| Month | ||||||
| November | 6 | 21.2 | 3.0-6.0 | 1.0-2.7 | 1.8-2.2 | 8.8 |
| December | 5 | 21.2 | 1.6-4.4 | 0.2-0.6 | 2.6-3.4 | 6.0 |
| January | 6 | 29.5 | 2.0-6.2 | 0.3-1.7 | 2.3-2.8 | 6.7 |
| February | 1 | 6.0 | 1.0-1.0 | 1.0-1.0 | 0.0-0.0 | 3.0 |
| Statistic | gp | gs | min | fg | pct | 3pt | pct | ft | pct | pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Event | ||||||||||
| Total | 18 | 13 | 416 | 39-96 | 40.6 | 10-30 | 33.3 | 38-47 | 80.9 | 126 |
| Conference | 11 | 6 | 270 | 18-56 | 32.1 | 4-14 | 28.6 | 26-32 | 81.3 | 66 |
| Exhibition | - | - | - | 0-0 | - | 0-0 | - | 0-0 | - | 0 |
| Location | ||||||||||
| Home | 10 | 8 | 209 | 23-54 | 42.6 | 6-13 | 46.2 | 18-25 | 72.0 | 70 |
| Away | 8 | 5 | 207 | 16-42 | 38.1 | 4-17 | 23.5 | 20-22 | 90.9 | 56 |
| Neutral | - | - | - | 0-0 | - | 0-0 | - | 0-0 | - | 0 |
| Result | ||||||||||
| Wins | 8 | 7 | 173 | 20-46 | 43.5 | 5-15 | 33.3 | 22-26 | 84.6 | 67 |
| Losses | 10 | 6 | 243 | 19-50 | 38.0 | 5-15 | 33.3 | 16-21 | 76.2 | 59 |
| Month | ||||||||||
| November | 6 | 6 | 127 | 18-36 | 50.0 | 6-16 | 37.5 | 11-13 | 84.6 | 53 |
| December | 5 | 2 | 106 | 8-22 | 36.4 | 1-3 | 33.3 | 13-17 | 76.5 | 30 |
| January | 6 | 4 | 177 | 12-37 | 32.4 | 2-10 | 20.0 | 14-17 | 82.4 | 40 |
| February | 1 | 1 | 6 | 1-1 | 100.0 | 1-1 | 100.0 | 0-0 | - | 3 |
| Statistic | gp | min | min/g | fg/40 | 3pt/40 | pct | ft/40 | pts/40 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Event | ||||||||
| Total | 18 | 416 | 23.1 | 0.0-0.0 | 0.0-0.0 | 33.3 | 0.0-0.0 | 0.0 |
| Conference | 11 | 270 | 24.5 | 0.0-0.0 | 0.0-0.0 | 28.6 | 0.0-0.0 | 0.0 |
| Exhibition | - | - | - | 0.0-0.0 | 0.0-0.0 | - | 0.0-0.0 | - |
| Location | ||||||||
| Home | 10 | 209 | 20.9 | 0.0-0.0 | 0.0-0.0 | 46.2 | 0.0-0.0 | 0.0 |
| Away | 8 | 207 | 25.9 | 0.0-0.0 | 0.0-0.0 | 23.5 | 0.0-0.0 | 0.0 |
| Neutral | - | - | - | 0.0-0.0 | 0.0-0.0 | - | 0.0-0.0 | - |
| Result | ||||||||
| Wins | 8 | 173 | 21.6 | 0.0-0.0 | 0.0-0.0 | 33.3 | 0.0-0.0 | 0.0 |
| Losses | 10 | 243 | 24.3 | 0.0-0.0 | 0.0-0.0 | 33.3 | 0.0-0.0 | 0.0 |
| Month | ||||||||
| November | 6 | 127 | 21.2 | 0.0-0.0 | 0.0-0.0 | 37.5 | 0.0-0.0 | 0.0 |
| December | 5 | 106 | 21.2 | 0.0-0.0 | 0.0-0.0 | 33.3 | 0.0-0.0 | 0.0 |
| January | 6 | 177 | 29.5 | 0.0-0.0 | 0.0-0.0 | 20.0 | 0.0-0.0 | 0.0 |
| February | 1 | 6 | 6.0 | 0.0-0.0 | 0.0-0.0 | 100.0 | 0.0-0.0 | 0.0 |
| Statistic | gp | off/g | def/g | reb/g | ast/g | to/g | stl/g | blk/g |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Event | ||||||||
| Total | 18 | 1.4 | 2.7 | 4.1 | 1.5 | 1.3 | 0.8 | 0.4 |
| Conference | 11 | 1.5 | 2.5 | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.4 | 0.6 | 0.4 |
| Exhibition | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Location | ||||||||
| Home | 10 | 1.9 | 2.6 | 4.5 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 0.7 | 0.4 |
| Away | 8 | 0.8 | 2.9 | 3.6 | 1.6 | 1.1 | 1.0 | 0.5 |
| Neutral | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Result | ||||||||
| Wins | 8 | 1.5 | 3.5 | 5.0 | 1.5 | 1.6 | 1.1 | 0.5 |
| Losses | 10 | 1.3 | 2.1 | 3.4 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 0.4 |
| Month | ||||||||
| November | 6 | 1.3 | 3.0 | 4.3 | 1.3 | 1.2 | 1.3 | 0.7 |
| December | 5 | 1.6 | 2.6 | 4.2 | 2.2 | 1.4 | 0.4 | 0.2 |
| January | 6 | 1.5 | 3.0 | 4.5 | 1.3 | 1.5 | 0.8 | 0.5 |
| February | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Statistic | gp | gs | off | def | reb | ast | to | stl | blk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Event | |||||||||
| Total | 18 | 13 | 25 | 49 | 74 | 27 | 23 | 15 | 8 |
| Conference | 11 | 6 | 16 | 28 | 44 | 16 | 15 | 7 | 4 |
| Exhibition | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Location | |||||||||
| Home | 10 | 8 | 19 | 26 | 45 | 14 | 14 | 7 | 4 |
| Away | 8 | 5 | 6 | 23 | 29 | 13 | 9 | 8 | 4 |
| Neutral | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Result | |||||||||
| Wins | 8 | 7 | 12 | 28 | 40 | 12 | 13 | 9 | 4 |
| Losses | 10 | 6 | 13 | 21 | 34 | 15 | 10 | 6 | 4 |
| Month | |||||||||
| November | 6 | 6 | 8 | 18 | 26 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 4 |
| December | 5 | 2 | 8 | 13 | 21 | 11 | 7 | 2 | 1 |
| January | 6 | 4 | 9 | 18 | 27 | 8 | 9 | 5 | 3 |
| February | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Statistic | gp | off/40 | def/40 | reb/40 | ast/40 | to/40 | stl/40 | blk/40 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Event | ||||||||
| Total | 18 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Conference | 11 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Exhibition | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Location | ||||||||
| Home | 10 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Away | 8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Neutral | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Result | ||||||||
| Wins | 8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Losses | 10 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Month | ||||||||
| November | 6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| December | 5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| January | 6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| February | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
News mentions
Sophomore Taylor DeMassimo and freshman Halle Morehead led the Muskies in their 73-63 loss against Otterbein on Saturday afternoon in the Steele Center.
The Muskingum women’s basketball team defeated Capital on Wednesday night, 68-58. The win propelled the Muskies to their first season sweep over Capital since the 1988-89 campaign.
The Muskingum women’s basketball team fell to seventeenth-ranked Baldwin Wallace in an OAC clash on Saturday afternoon, 60-38.
The Muskingum women’s basketball team fell on the road against twenty-fourth ranked Marietta, 94-72 at the Ban Johnson Arena on Wednesday night.
The Muskingum women’s basketball team improved to 6-4 on the season and 2-2 in the OAC after defeating Heidelberg in the Anne C. Steele Center Saturday afternoon, 42-39.
The Muskingum women’s basketball team defeated Capital on Wednesday evening, 68-59. The Muskies improve to a 5-3 overall record and a 1-1 Ohio Athletic Conference record.
The Muskingum women’s basketball team fell in an intense battle to #3 John Carroll on Saturday afternoon, 76-68. The contest marked OAC openers for the both the Muskies and Blue Streaks.
Sophomore Abby Jones finished with a career-high 27 points, as the Muskingum women’s basketball team fell short against Kenyon, 83-77.
The Ohio Athletic Conference has named sophomore guard Leia Smith the OAC Women’s Basketball Player of the Week for her efforts in leading the Muskies to a 2-0 start to the season.
The Muskingum women's basketball team scored 49 second-half points to shoot past Bethany on Saturday night, 77-69.
The Muskingum women’s basketball team defeated Thiel in their season-opener on Friday night 96-62 in the Anne C. Steele Center.
Under the direction of third-year head coach Erin Eaton, the Muskingum women's basketball team will look to elevate the program to be an Ohio Athletic Conference contender this season.