Ohio State Women’s Basketball Triumphs in Big Ten Tournament
In the Big Ten Tournament held on Thursday, the No. 11 Ohio State women’s basketball team showcased an impressive performance against Indiana, winning decisively with a score of 83-59. Jaloni Cambridge led the Buckeyes with 19 points, complemented by eight rebounds and five assists, while Chance Gray contributed 18 points to help secure the victory. With this win, Ohio State, sporting a 25-6 overall record as a No. 5 seed in the tournament, has achieved its fifth consecutive season with 25 or more wins.
Game Highlights
The first half saw Ohio State pull ahead with a significant 12-0 scoring streak, marking the game’s first double-digit lead at 24-14. By halftime, the Buckeyes held a solid 36-24 advantage, with Gray hitting a crucial three-pointer just seconds before the break. As the second half commenced, Ohio State’s dominance continued with another surge, pushing their lead to 17 points early in the third quarter thanks to a quick 10-0 run. The Buckeyes maintained their commanding lead throughout, peaking at a 30-point advantage late in the game, specifically 81-51 with only three minutes to spare.
Other notable contributions came from Kennedy Cambridge, who scored 14 points, and Elsa Lemmilä, who not only scored six points but also amassed 13 rebounds, five assists, and three blocks. Gray, in addition to his scoring contributions, successfully made four of the Buckeyes’ ten successful three-pointers during the match. This comes just days after Ohio State set a new program record by sinking 18 three-pointers against then-No. 15 Michigan State, resulting in an 87-68 win.
Indiana’s Performance
On the Indiana side, Maya Makalusky was the standout player, finishing the game with 21 points and hitting five three-pointers, while Shay Ciezki and Nevaeh Caffey added 12 and 10 points, respectively.
Looking Ahead
Looking ahead, Ohio State will face 19th-ranked Minnesota in the quarterfinals on Friday, aiming to even the score after previously losing 74-61 to them earlier in the season. Meanwhile, Indiana concludes its regular season with a challenging 6-12 record in Big Ten competition.
