LGHL Game Preview: No. 11 Ohio State women’s basketball vs. Ball State
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Game Preview: No. 11 Ohio State women’s basketball vs. Ball State
Jami Jurich via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The Buckeyes look to extend their win streak to 10-in-a-row when they welcome the Cardinals Tuesday night.
After kicking off Big Ten action against No. 21 Illinois on Sunday, No. 11 Ohio State women’s basketball (9-0) remains unbeaten as they head into another non-conference matchup, this time against Ball State (6-3) at the Schottenstein Center.
The Cardinals are heading to Columbus on the heels of an 81-60 home victory over Davidson. Ball State is 1-0 in true road games this season and 1-2 in neutral site games.
The Buckeyes are 4-2 all-time against Ball State, but Tuesday’s game is the first meeting of the two programs since 1996.
Ohio State will celebrate pride night at Tuesday’s game.
After missing four games due to a right lower leg injury, senior forward Cotie McMahon was back in action against Illinois Sunday, leading the Buckeyes in their 83-74 win with 25 points. It was OSU’s first ranked win of the season.
In addition to McMahon, senior guard Taylor Thierry and junior guard Chance Gray scored in double-digits, with 14 and 13 points respectively.
Against the Fighting Illini, freshman point guard Jaloni Cambridge found herself in foul trouble early and eventually fouled out of the game, though McMahon and co. had no trouble picking up the slack for the team’s second-highest scorer, who sits just behind Gray’s 15.6 average points per game at 15.1.
Despite the foul troubles, OSU fared better than their counterparts, posting 21 fouls to the Illini’s 25.
The Buckeyes’ success against the Illini was in no small part thanks to forwards Ajae Petty and Elsa Lemmilä, who are each averaging over 7 rebounds per game and had no problem containing Illinois standout forward Kendall Bostic. Additionally, the Buckeyes were on fire defensively, collectively logging 19 turnovers and converting them into 30 points. They were also good for nine steals.
Ultimately, Ohio State looked composed and in control for the majority of the game. They led by as many as 21 points, while the Illini’s largest lead was just three, thanks to a combination of powerful shooting, strong defense and forced errors. This well-rounded effort will serve them well against Ball State, a team who has plenty of high-powered scorers of their own.
The Cardinals are trying to follow a strong 2023-2024 season, in which they set program records for both overall wins (28) and Mid-American Conference victories (16) under head coach Brady Sallee.
Ball State has five players with double-digit scoring averages: team leader Ally Becki (14.4), Lachelle Austin (12.9), Alex Richard (12.3), Madelyn Bischoff (12.2) and Elise Stuck (10.0). Becki also leads the team in assists with 5.9 per game, while Marie Kiefer leads in rebounding with 6.6.
The Cardinals were named the preseason favorite to win the MAC conference and tournament titles, though they have not yet kicked off conference play. Their matchup with the Buckeyes marks their second game against a ranked opponent (they fell in a respectable effort against No. 16 North Carolina, 63-52, in November).
G- Jaloni Cambridge
G- Chance Gray
G- Taylor Thierry
F- Cotie McMahon
F- Ajae Petty
G - Lachelle Austin
G - Ally Becki
G - Madelyn Bischoff
G - Sydney Bolden
F - Marie Kiefer
Though Ball State has had a successful season and each of the Cardinals’ three losses came against respectable opponents (Columbia and South Dakota State, in addition to the aforementioned No. 16 North Carolina game), unless the Buckeyes have an extremely off night, this game shouldn’t be too much trouble for the Scarlet and Gray.
Look to Ball State to make enough runs to keep things interesting, especially if Becki is shooting well or the Buckeyes find themselves in foul trouble again. But in the end, the Buckeyes should have no trouble maintaining control to lock in the win.
Date: Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024
Time: 6 p.m. ET
Where: Schottenstein Center, Columbus, Ohio
Stream: B1G+
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Jami Jurich via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The Buckeyes look to extend their win streak to 10-in-a-row when they welcome the Cardinals Tuesday night.
After kicking off Big Ten action against No. 21 Illinois on Sunday, No. 11 Ohio State women’s basketball (9-0) remains unbeaten as they head into another non-conference matchup, this time against Ball State (6-3) at the Schottenstein Center.
The Cardinals are heading to Columbus on the heels of an 81-60 home victory over Davidson. Ball State is 1-0 in true road games this season and 1-2 in neutral site games.
The Buckeyes are 4-2 all-time against Ball State, but Tuesday’s game is the first meeting of the two programs since 1996.
Ohio State will celebrate pride night at Tuesday’s game.
Preview
After missing four games due to a right lower leg injury, senior forward Cotie McMahon was back in action against Illinois Sunday, leading the Buckeyes in their 83-74 win with 25 points. It was OSU’s first ranked win of the season.
In addition to McMahon, senior guard Taylor Thierry and junior guard Chance Gray scored in double-digits, with 14 and 13 points respectively.
Against the Fighting Illini, freshman point guard Jaloni Cambridge found herself in foul trouble early and eventually fouled out of the game, though McMahon and co. had no trouble picking up the slack for the team’s second-highest scorer, who sits just behind Gray’s 15.6 average points per game at 15.1.
Despite the foul troubles, OSU fared better than their counterparts, posting 21 fouls to the Illini’s 25.
The Buckeyes’ success against the Illini was in no small part thanks to forwards Ajae Petty and Elsa Lemmilä, who are each averaging over 7 rebounds per game and had no problem containing Illinois standout forward Kendall Bostic. Additionally, the Buckeyes were on fire defensively, collectively logging 19 turnovers and converting them into 30 points. They were also good for nine steals.
Ultimately, Ohio State looked composed and in control for the majority of the game. They led by as many as 21 points, while the Illini’s largest lead was just three, thanks to a combination of powerful shooting, strong defense and forced errors. This well-rounded effort will serve them well against Ball State, a team who has plenty of high-powered scorers of their own.
The Cardinals are trying to follow a strong 2023-2024 season, in which they set program records for both overall wins (28) and Mid-American Conference victories (16) under head coach Brady Sallee.
Ball State has five players with double-digit scoring averages: team leader Ally Becki (14.4), Lachelle Austin (12.9), Alex Richard (12.3), Madelyn Bischoff (12.2) and Elise Stuck (10.0). Becki also leads the team in assists with 5.9 per game, while Marie Kiefer leads in rebounding with 6.6.
The Cardinals were named the preseason favorite to win the MAC conference and tournament titles, though they have not yet kicked off conference play. Their matchup with the Buckeyes marks their second game against a ranked opponent (they fell in a respectable effort against No. 16 North Carolina, 63-52, in November).
Projected Starters
Ohio State
G- Jaloni Cambridge
G- Chance Gray
G- Taylor Thierry
F- Cotie McMahon
F- Ajae Petty
Lineup Notes
- McMahon has scored in double digits in all four games she’s played in this season, putting up 20 points in two of them.
- McMahon, Thierry, and Gray all scored in double digits against the Fighting Illini.
Ball State
G - Lachelle Austin
G - Ally Becki
G - Madelyn Bischoff
G - Sydney Bolden
F - Marie Kiefer
Lineup Notes
- Austin, Becki, and Kiefer have started all nine games, though head coach Brady Sallee has rotated the other two spots between five other players on the roster.
- Becky, Kiefer and Bischoff, along with Alex Richard, are all returning starters from last year. Richard has started in four games this year, most recently, on Nov. 16 against Northern Iowa.
Prediction
Though Ball State has had a successful season and each of the Cardinals’ three losses came against respectable opponents (Columbia and South Dakota State, in addition to the aforementioned No. 16 North Carolina game), unless the Buckeyes have an extremely off night, this game shouldn’t be too much trouble for the Scarlet and Gray.
Look to Ball State to make enough runs to keep things interesting, especially if Becki is shooting well or the Buckeyes find themselves in foul trouble again. But in the end, the Buckeyes should have no trouble maintaining control to lock in the win.
How to Watch
Date: Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024
Time: 6 p.m. ET
Where: Schottenstein Center, Columbus, Ohio
Stream: B1G+
LGHL Score Prediction: Ohio State 88, Ball State 65
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