With the first swing through the Ohio Athletic Conference coming to an end, two teams with 5-3 league records will meet 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Fred Raizk Arena in Hermann Court. Wilmington hosts the defending league champion Ohio Northern in a pivotal meeting.

"I expect the defending league champions, and I expect what I thought was the best player in the league (senior Cenzie Yoder) in the last two seasons with a very strong complimentary core to go along with her." Wilmington head coach Jerry Scheve. "I thought their team last year was as good a team I have seen in the OAC in years. They were tough to beat. They might not be as strong this year, but they know what it takes to win. They expect to win.

"They like to run, and they get a surprising number of points in transition," Scheve continued. "They run a very efficient offense keyed around Yoder and (junior forward Jordan) Kimes. Defensively, you really have to concentrate on them, which opens it up the outside for some really good three-point shooters."

While Scheve reams a lot of praise on Yoder, she isn't the best post player for the Polar Bears. Kimes comes off the bench to lead the team with 12.7 points and 8.3 rebounds. Yoder, meanwhile, is second on the team with 10.8 points and 5.7 rebounds.

Two athletically-gifted wing players – sophomore Carly Thomas and sophomore Brooke Espenschied – have benefited for opposing teams' focusing on the inside duo. Thomas is averaging 19 points in the last two games, and is averaging 10 points per game. Espenschied is scoring 7.9 points per game.

Ohio Northern has won three straight, and has won eight of their last nine games, including a victory over No. 9 Wisconsin-Whitewater on December 30. The only lost during the nine-game stretch was to 8-7 Marietta.

"There is nothing surprising in this league," said Scheve. "It sounds like a cliché, but it's a fact; there are no easy games. There are 10 well-coached teams, all of which have some very good players. It's just that kind of a league.