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LGHL No. 5 Ohio State women’s basketball runs over Michigan State 86-71
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No. 5 Ohio State women’s basketball runs over Michigan State 86-71
ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Ohio State University athletic department
Even with three starters missing key minutes with foul trouble, the Buckeyes roll over the Spartans
Sunday afternoon, Ohio State women’s basketball played the final conference game of the day, taking on the Michigan State Spartans. It was the last of five games on the day, with No. 2 Iowa Hawkeyes and the Nebraska Cornhuskers grabbing most of the attention. Behind a quiet fourth quarter by Iowa’s Caitlin Clark, the Hawkeyes suffered an upset defeat in Lincoln, Nebraska.
The Buckeyes 86-71 win over the Spartans puts Ohio State alone at the top of the Big Ten standings, defeating Michigan State without usual minutes from three starters due to early foul trouble.
From the jump, it looked like the Buckeyes were facing off against themselves. Both teams employed a similar style of defensive press to try and throw the other side out of its rhythm. Early on, it was Michigan State getting the best of Ohio State.
Sparty forced two quick turnovers but offensively couldn’t capitalize. Neither side went on runs because of the pressure. Instead, each team took turns hitting shots and keeping the game close. It appeared the game would come down to who could break the press first.
Helping the Buckeyes was rebounding by sophomore Cotie McMahon. The Ohio State star had five to start the game, but headed to the bench. At first, it was because she picked up two fouls, but those two fouls turned into three, thanks to a technical assessed.
Going in for a layup, McMahon heard the whistle for a clear charging call. On the way back to the bench, the forward received a technical foul, giving her three on the day with 1:19 remaining in the first quarter. Guard Jacy Sheldon responded.
Sheldon closed the quarter out with a steal, assist and layup. It shot Ohio State’s three-point lead up to seven points. That and four shots missed to end the first quarter by the Spartans, gave the Buckeyes the seven-point advantage entering the second quarter.
The advantage grew quickly. Ohio State entered the second quarter looking like a team who practices against a press every day, scoring the first eight points of the quarter before Michigan State head coach Robyn Fralick called a timeout to regroup.
Sparty came out of the timeout deciding to go hard at the paint. With four minutes gone in the second quarter, Ohio State was out-fouling Michigan State 11-to-5. Joining McMahon on the bench with three fouls was guard/forward Taylor Thierry. Also, Sheldon had two herself but was kept in the game. The graduate senior ended a seven-point Spartans run, including three free throws.
Even so, the Buckeyes still had a 12-point lead to protect in the remaining six minutes of the half, but it would get more difficult with another foul call. This time, it was Sheldon picking up her third of the half on a clear charging foul.
Ohio State was without its three leading scorers for the last five minutes of the first half. In those situations, its expected that there’s a dip and a chance for the Spartans to get back into the game.
That's not what happened.
The Buckeyes scored 15 of the last 20 points of the quarter, missing only two shots for the remainder of the half. Leading the way was guard Celeste Taylor. Although the guard picked up her second late in the second quarter, head coach Kevin McGuff kept her in the game.
Taylor led Ohio State with 16 points, playing all 20 minutes of the first half. The graduate senior guard did it on 6-for-9 shooting, going 2-for-3 from beyond the arc. Those 16 points matching the guard’s season high as a Buckeye, in the Dec. 30 defeat to the Michigan Wolverines.
At halftime though, it didn’t look like another trip to Michigan would end with a loss. The Buckeyes entered halftime with a 22-point lead, 53-31. Mostly due to turnovers.
On Jan. 14, the Buckeyes forced a season low eight turnovers against the Spartans. In the first half, Ohio State forced 11. The Buckeyes’ growing lead came in part because Michigan State didn’t get off many shots.
Ohio State outshot Michigan State 16-9 in the second quarter, but the Spartans with 3-for-9 on those shots, missing all three shots attempted from beyond the arc.
To start the second half, Coach McGuff brought back his starting five, with Taylor quickly joining three of her teammates by picking up her third foul. However, the start of the half was all Ohio State.
Michigan State added three more turnovers, inching closer to its season high of 15 turnovers in a game, and continued to shoot cold. For the Buckeyes, it picked up where it left off, going on a 10-point run after the Spartans hit one free throw to start the scoring in the third quarter.
The home side fought back out of a timeout, scoring the next six points, but it was three- point shooting bringing the game back to a consistent lead near 30 points for the Buckeyes. By the end of the third quarter, the Buckeyes were 7-for-12 from three-point range.
Also, outstanding scoring from forward Rebeka Mikulášiková. The Slovakian scored eight points in the third quarter, putting her total to 19 points at the start of the fourth quarter. All of those third quarter points came inside the paint as the Spartans were giving her too much space on the other end of its press.
With 10 minutes still remaining, the Buckeyes were up 28 points, with 27 points coming off a Spartans season-high 16 turnovers. Ohio State’s rout continued.
McMahon and Thierry got the scoring started with a midrange jumper and three-point shot. It gave the scarlet and gray a 33-point lead.
Entering the game with four minutes remaining was former Michigan State Spartans forward Taiyier Parks. The graduate forward had her moment to play in her old home arena, finishing the game out for Ohio State.
There was no miracle comeback in East Lansing. The Buckeyes hold on to win 86-71, with a scoreline that made the game look much closer.
Taylor and Mikulášiková led things for the Buckeyes, in the scoring department. The Duke transfer scored 20, eclipsing her previous high of 16 points as a member of the scarlet and gray. Mikulášiková was right behind Taylor with 10 points. Also, despite playing only 19 minutes, McMahon still grabbed seven rebounds to lead Ohio State on the boards.
Following Ohio State’s win over the Minnesota Golden Gophers on Thursday, the coveted “Dub Chain,” given to a player who stood out in an Ohio State victory, went to the entire team because of a 23-assist game.
On Sunday, the Buckeyes had 28. Only six baskets made in the run of play didn’t come off an Ohio State assist. Of the 10 Buckeyes who made it onto the court, eight had at least an assist. McMahon, Mikulášiková and Sheldon led Ohio State with five assists each in a game that wasn’t in question for much of the 40 minutes.
After the game, the Buckeyes shared that they knew Iowa lost to Nebraska before the tipoff. It didn’t get into Ohio State’s head and with the win, the scarlet and gray own its destiny in terms of winning the regular season title. If the Buckeyes win out, the trophy stays with Ohio State alone.
If the scarlet and gray lose to Iowa, and win every game before it, the Buckeyes will earn a share of the title with the Hawkeyes.
Ohio State has one more game before an eight-day break between contests. It comes Wednesday, at the Schottenstein Center, when the Nebraska Cornhuskers come to Columbus for a Valentine’s Day matchup.
Nebraska had quite the Super Bowl Sunday, defeating the Iowa Hawkeyes after going down 14 points in the fourth quarter. That’s behind a fourth quarter for guard Caitlin Clark who took six shots in the final quarter, not scoring a single point. Its the only time the guard hasn’t scored a point in the fourth quarter in her four seasons with Iowa.
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ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Ohio State University athletic department
Even with three starters missing key minutes with foul trouble, the Buckeyes roll over the Spartans
Sunday afternoon, Ohio State women’s basketball played the final conference game of the day, taking on the Michigan State Spartans. It was the last of five games on the day, with No. 2 Iowa Hawkeyes and the Nebraska Cornhuskers grabbing most of the attention. Behind a quiet fourth quarter by Iowa’s Caitlin Clark, the Hawkeyes suffered an upset defeat in Lincoln, Nebraska.
The Buckeyes 86-71 win over the Spartans puts Ohio State alone at the top of the Big Ten standings, defeating Michigan State without usual minutes from three starters due to early foul trouble.
From the jump, it looked like the Buckeyes were facing off against themselves. Both teams employed a similar style of defensive press to try and throw the other side out of its rhythm. Early on, it was Michigan State getting the best of Ohio State.
Sparty forced two quick turnovers but offensively couldn’t capitalize. Neither side went on runs because of the pressure. Instead, each team took turns hitting shots and keeping the game close. It appeared the game would come down to who could break the press first.
Helping the Buckeyes was rebounding by sophomore Cotie McMahon. The Ohio State star had five to start the game, but headed to the bench. At first, it was because she picked up two fouls, but those two fouls turned into three, thanks to a technical assessed.
Going in for a layup, McMahon heard the whistle for a clear charging call. On the way back to the bench, the forward received a technical foul, giving her three on the day with 1:19 remaining in the first quarter. Guard Jacy Sheldon responded.
Sheldon closed the quarter out with a steal, assist and layup. It shot Ohio State’s three-point lead up to seven points. That and four shots missed to end the first quarter by the Spartans, gave the Buckeyes the seven-point advantage entering the second quarter.
The advantage grew quickly. Ohio State entered the second quarter looking like a team who practices against a press every day, scoring the first eight points of the quarter before Michigan State head coach Robyn Fralick called a timeout to regroup.
Sparty came out of the timeout deciding to go hard at the paint. With four minutes gone in the second quarter, Ohio State was out-fouling Michigan State 11-to-5. Joining McMahon on the bench with three fouls was guard/forward Taylor Thierry. Also, Sheldon had two herself but was kept in the game. The graduate senior ended a seven-point Spartans run, including three free throws.
Even so, the Buckeyes still had a 12-point lead to protect in the remaining six minutes of the half, but it would get more difficult with another foul call. This time, it was Sheldon picking up her third of the half on a clear charging foul.
Ohio State was without its three leading scorers for the last five minutes of the first half. In those situations, its expected that there’s a dip and a chance for the Spartans to get back into the game.
That's not what happened.
The Buckeyes scored 15 of the last 20 points of the quarter, missing only two shots for the remainder of the half. Leading the way was guard Celeste Taylor. Although the guard picked up her second late in the second quarter, head coach Kevin McGuff kept her in the game.
Taylor led Ohio State with 16 points, playing all 20 minutes of the first half. The graduate senior guard did it on 6-for-9 shooting, going 2-for-3 from beyond the arc. Those 16 points matching the guard’s season high as a Buckeye, in the Dec. 30 defeat to the Michigan Wolverines.
At halftime though, it didn’t look like another trip to Michigan would end with a loss. The Buckeyes entered halftime with a 22-point lead, 53-31. Mostly due to turnovers.
On Jan. 14, the Buckeyes forced a season low eight turnovers against the Spartans. In the first half, Ohio State forced 11. The Buckeyes’ growing lead came in part because Michigan State didn’t get off many shots.
Ohio State outshot Michigan State 16-9 in the second quarter, but the Spartans with 3-for-9 on those shots, missing all three shots attempted from beyond the arc.
To start the second half, Coach McGuff brought back his starting five, with Taylor quickly joining three of her teammates by picking up her third foul. However, the start of the half was all Ohio State.
Michigan State added three more turnovers, inching closer to its season high of 15 turnovers in a game, and continued to shoot cold. For the Buckeyes, it picked up where it left off, going on a 10-point run after the Spartans hit one free throw to start the scoring in the third quarter.
The home side fought back out of a timeout, scoring the next six points, but it was three- point shooting bringing the game back to a consistent lead near 30 points for the Buckeyes. By the end of the third quarter, the Buckeyes were 7-for-12 from three-point range.
Also, outstanding scoring from forward Rebeka Mikulášiková. The Slovakian scored eight points in the third quarter, putting her total to 19 points at the start of the fourth quarter. All of those third quarter points came inside the paint as the Spartans were giving her too much space on the other end of its press.
With 10 minutes still remaining, the Buckeyes were up 28 points, with 27 points coming off a Spartans season-high 16 turnovers. Ohio State’s rout continued.
McMahon and Thierry got the scoring started with a midrange jumper and three-point shot. It gave the scarlet and gray a 33-point lead.
Entering the game with four minutes remaining was former Michigan State Spartans forward Taiyier Parks. The graduate forward had her moment to play in her old home arena, finishing the game out for Ohio State.
There was no miracle comeback in East Lansing. The Buckeyes hold on to win 86-71, with a scoreline that made the game look much closer.
Taylor and Mikulášiková led things for the Buckeyes, in the scoring department. The Duke transfer scored 20, eclipsing her previous high of 16 points as a member of the scarlet and gray. Mikulášiková was right behind Taylor with 10 points. Also, despite playing only 19 minutes, McMahon still grabbed seven rebounds to lead Ohio State on the boards.
Team Basketball
Following Ohio State’s win over the Minnesota Golden Gophers on Thursday, the coveted “Dub Chain,” given to a player who stood out in an Ohio State victory, went to the entire team because of a 23-assist game.
On Sunday, the Buckeyes had 28. Only six baskets made in the run of play didn’t come off an Ohio State assist. Of the 10 Buckeyes who made it onto the court, eight had at least an assist. McMahon, Mikulášiková and Sheldon led Ohio State with five assists each in a game that wasn’t in question for much of the 40 minutes.
Moving Ahead of Iowa
After the game, the Buckeyes shared that they knew Iowa lost to Nebraska before the tipoff. It didn’t get into Ohio State’s head and with the win, the scarlet and gray own its destiny in terms of winning the regular season title. If the Buckeyes win out, the trophy stays with Ohio State alone.
If the scarlet and gray lose to Iowa, and win every game before it, the Buckeyes will earn a share of the title with the Hawkeyes.
What’s Next
Ohio State has one more game before an eight-day break between contests. It comes Wednesday, at the Schottenstein Center, when the Nebraska Cornhuskers come to Columbus for a Valentine’s Day matchup.
Nebraska had quite the Super Bowl Sunday, defeating the Iowa Hawkeyes after going down 14 points in the fourth quarter. That’s behind a fourth quarter for guard Caitlin Clark who took six shots in the final quarter, not scoring a single point. Its the only time the guard hasn’t scored a point in the fourth quarter in her four seasons with Iowa.
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LGHL Game Preview: No. 5 Ohio State women’s basketball at Michigan State
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Game Preview: No. 5 Ohio State women’s basketball at Michigan State
ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Barbara J. Perenic/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
The Spartans host the Buckeyes three days after a debilitating Michigan State defeat against the Indiana Hoosiers
Are you ready for some Ohio State women’s basketball? That's the question for Michigan State on Sunday as the Buckeyes and Spartans face each other for the second time this season.
While the scarlet and gray bettered the green and white the first time the two teams met less than a month ago, will the Spartans learn from previous mistakes or will the Buckeyes play better than that low-scoring game on Jan. 14?
Back in January, the Spartans came to the Schottenstein Center and left with a 70-65 defeat. The Buckeyes, known for a havoc-inducing full court press, forced a season-low eight turnovers from Michigan State. Instead, Ohio State won the day on half court defense.
Head coach Kevin McGuff’s side held the green and white to 65 points, after entering the game scoring 89.9 points per game. The Buckeyes held the Spartans to 37.9% shooting in the win, at the time the lowest percentage of the season.
Since then, the Spartans have seen mixed results. Michigan State beat up the Northwestern Wildcats after the loss to the Buckeyes, but then suffered its worse loss of the Big Ten season, losing by 19 points to the Minnesota Golden Gophers (before the loss of star guard Mara Braun).
In the four games since that lopsided defeat, the Spartans responded.
Michigan State won its next four games by 19.7 points per game, including a 21-point win over the lone team to beat the Buckeyes in the Big Ten schedule, the Michigan Wolverines. Thursday night, it looked like another marquee win for the Spartans at Assembly Hall in Bloomington, Indiana.
With 4:38 remaining in the third quarter, a three-point shot by forward Tory Ozment put Sparty up 11 points, but Indiana wasn’t finished. Indiana scored 13 of the last 17 points of the third quarter and outscored the Spartans 28-23 in the final 10 minutes to come away with the home victory.
Now, the Buckeyes, fresh off a 71-47 win over the Golden Gophers, go to East Lansing to take on a side who had a season-shifting win slip through its hands.
Sunday will likely not include anomalies that gave Ohio State the win in the first matchup. For example, junior guard DeeDee Hagemann. In Columbus, the point guard who averages 13.1 points and 5.0 assists per game took 11 shots, but made only one, going 1-for-7 on shots inside the arc, mostly through drives to the basket.
In that scarlet and gray win, Hagemann looked for calls on many of those runs into the paint. That could mean a more aggressive Hagemann on Sunday, willing to take a hit to get to the line. Plus, the guard welcomes the Buckeyes on a four-game run where she’s averaging 15.3 points and 6.0 assists per game, plus a 19-point, 10-assist, double-double in the defeat to the Hoosiers.
Another is deep shooting. Ohio State held Michigan State to 5-for-21 shooting from deep, only the second time all season Sparty hit five or less in a game (both defeats). Credit to the Buckeyes for closing in on players, but there were also clear unlucky bounces. If shots fall at closer to the team’s season average 36.9%, it’ll require more of a shooting response from the scarlet and gray.
Ohio State hasn’t hit 10 three-point shots in a game since the Jan. 21 victory over the Iowa Hawkeyes. That doesn’t mean that a poor shooting game would do the Buckeyes in. Far from it, because that isn’t how the Buckeyes defeated the Spartans on Jan. 14.
In Columbus, the scarlet and gray won by out rebounding the Spartans, who shot 11 more times than the Buckeyes in the loss (making one less shot than Ohio State).
The Buckeyes still have to contend with the shooting of Michigan State. Four of the five expected starters can hit shots from deep, meaning getting back on defense and closing down shooters. To do that, starters have to stay on the court.
Shooting guard Celeste Taylor has missed crucial minutes for the Buckeyes of late, picking up four fouls in a game in four of the last seven. Often times, taking Taylor out of the game in the first half after picking up early fouls.
Also, while not foul-induced, forward Taylor Thierry’s been in a lull of late, one that Thursday showed she might be finding her way out. After averaging 6.5 rebounds in the first six games of the 2024 calendar, Thierry’s had 11 in the last four games. However, the guard/forward hybrid was crucial for the Buckeyes in the first half.
Playing 23 minutes, Thierry had three steals and three assists, with all assists coming in the second half. A place where the Buckeyes can hurt the Spartans is in the paint and Thierry can be key in that department for Ohio State.
Defensively though, the paint wasn’t the Buckeyes’ friend back in January against the green and white. Namely in backup guard Ozment. In the defeat, Ozment came off the bench to lead Michigan State in scoring with 18 points. Of those 18, only one was a three-point shot, meaning she found a way to score in the post.
Ohio State’s last three games came against teams strong in the paint, stronger than the Spartans, in Wisconsin forward Serah Williams, Indiana’s Mackenzie Holmes and the pair of Mallory Heyer and Sophie Hart in Minnesota. The group of starters Jocelyn Tate, Julia Ayrault and Ozment are formidable, but will the recent run for the Buckeyes put them in a better position in East Lansing?
G- Jacy Sheldon
G- Celeste Taylor
G- Taylor Thierry
F- Cotie McMahon
F- Rebeka Mikulášikova
Michigan State
G- DeeDee Hagemann
G- Moira Joiner
G- Abbey Kimball
G- Julia Ayrault
F- Jocelyn Tate
Sunday will play out a lot like the first meeting between the sides, except the Buckeyes offense will play better. Shooting from beyond the arc will be improved, and the full court press of Ohio State will play better than on Jan. 14.
Sheldon matches up against a similar style guard in Hagemann, but the graduate senior will get the better of the junior on Sunday, leading the Buckeyes in scoring. Especially from three-point range.
Date: Sunday, February 11, 2024
Time: 4:00 p.m. ET
Where: Breslin Arena, East Lansing, Michigan
Stream: Peacock
Sports and Taylor Swift fans all across the country know that Sunday means the Super Bowl. Whether people are there to watch the game, halftime show or commercials, one group missing most of it will be the Buckeyes.
The Buckeyes 4:00 p.m. ET tip starts two hours before the Super Bowl kicks off at 6:30 p.m. ET. That means the game likely ends near 6:00 p.m. ET, followed by a postgame talk, media and then preparing to fly or bus home.
While the game beats watching hours of pregame coverage for the big game, there are lingering questions why games are scheduled close to the Super Bowl in the first place.
Continue reading...
ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Barbara J. Perenic/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
The Spartans host the Buckeyes three days after a debilitating Michigan State defeat against the Indiana Hoosiers
Are you ready for some Ohio State women’s basketball? That's the question for Michigan State on Sunday as the Buckeyes and Spartans face each other for the second time this season.
While the scarlet and gray bettered the green and white the first time the two teams met less than a month ago, will the Spartans learn from previous mistakes or will the Buckeyes play better than that low-scoring game on Jan. 14?
Preview
Back in January, the Spartans came to the Schottenstein Center and left with a 70-65 defeat. The Buckeyes, known for a havoc-inducing full court press, forced a season-low eight turnovers from Michigan State. Instead, Ohio State won the day on half court defense.
Head coach Kevin McGuff’s side held the green and white to 65 points, after entering the game scoring 89.9 points per game. The Buckeyes held the Spartans to 37.9% shooting in the win, at the time the lowest percentage of the season.
Since then, the Spartans have seen mixed results. Michigan State beat up the Northwestern Wildcats after the loss to the Buckeyes, but then suffered its worse loss of the Big Ten season, losing by 19 points to the Minnesota Golden Gophers (before the loss of star guard Mara Braun).
In the four games since that lopsided defeat, the Spartans responded.
Michigan State won its next four games by 19.7 points per game, including a 21-point win over the lone team to beat the Buckeyes in the Big Ten schedule, the Michigan Wolverines. Thursday night, it looked like another marquee win for the Spartans at Assembly Hall in Bloomington, Indiana.
With 4:38 remaining in the third quarter, a three-point shot by forward Tory Ozment put Sparty up 11 points, but Indiana wasn’t finished. Indiana scored 13 of the last 17 points of the third quarter and outscored the Spartans 28-23 in the final 10 minutes to come away with the home victory.
Now, the Buckeyes, fresh off a 71-47 win over the Golden Gophers, go to East Lansing to take on a side who had a season-shifting win slip through its hands.
Sunday will likely not include anomalies that gave Ohio State the win in the first matchup. For example, junior guard DeeDee Hagemann. In Columbus, the point guard who averages 13.1 points and 5.0 assists per game took 11 shots, but made only one, going 1-for-7 on shots inside the arc, mostly through drives to the basket.
In that scarlet and gray win, Hagemann looked for calls on many of those runs into the paint. That could mean a more aggressive Hagemann on Sunday, willing to take a hit to get to the line. Plus, the guard welcomes the Buckeyes on a four-game run where she’s averaging 15.3 points and 6.0 assists per game, plus a 19-point, 10-assist, double-double in the defeat to the Hoosiers.
Another is deep shooting. Ohio State held Michigan State to 5-for-21 shooting from deep, only the second time all season Sparty hit five or less in a game (both defeats). Credit to the Buckeyes for closing in on players, but there were also clear unlucky bounces. If shots fall at closer to the team’s season average 36.9%, it’ll require more of a shooting response from the scarlet and gray.
Ohio State hasn’t hit 10 three-point shots in a game since the Jan. 21 victory over the Iowa Hawkeyes. That doesn’t mean that a poor shooting game would do the Buckeyes in. Far from it, because that isn’t how the Buckeyes defeated the Spartans on Jan. 14.
In Columbus, the scarlet and gray won by out rebounding the Spartans, who shot 11 more times than the Buckeyes in the loss (making one less shot than Ohio State).
The Buckeyes still have to contend with the shooting of Michigan State. Four of the five expected starters can hit shots from deep, meaning getting back on defense and closing down shooters. To do that, starters have to stay on the court.
Shooting guard Celeste Taylor has missed crucial minutes for the Buckeyes of late, picking up four fouls in a game in four of the last seven. Often times, taking Taylor out of the game in the first half after picking up early fouls.
Also, while not foul-induced, forward Taylor Thierry’s been in a lull of late, one that Thursday showed she might be finding her way out. After averaging 6.5 rebounds in the first six games of the 2024 calendar, Thierry’s had 11 in the last four games. However, the guard/forward hybrid was crucial for the Buckeyes in the first half.
Playing 23 minutes, Thierry had three steals and three assists, with all assists coming in the second half. A place where the Buckeyes can hurt the Spartans is in the paint and Thierry can be key in that department for Ohio State.
Defensively though, the paint wasn’t the Buckeyes’ friend back in January against the green and white. Namely in backup guard Ozment. In the defeat, Ozment came off the bench to lead Michigan State in scoring with 18 points. Of those 18, only one was a three-point shot, meaning she found a way to score in the post.
Ohio State’s last three games came against teams strong in the paint, stronger than the Spartans, in Wisconsin forward Serah Williams, Indiana’s Mackenzie Holmes and the pair of Mallory Heyer and Sophie Hart in Minnesota. The group of starters Jocelyn Tate, Julia Ayrault and Ozment are formidable, but will the recent run for the Buckeyes put them in a better position in East Lansing?
Ohio State
G- Jacy Sheldon
G- Celeste Taylor
G- Taylor Thierry
F- Cotie McMahon
F- Rebeka Mikulášikova
Lineup Notes
- Guard Jacy Sheldon’s 12 points against the Minnesota Golden Gophers puts her at 1858 for her career.
- Sheldon leads the Big Ten in steals per game with 2.3.
- Ohio State has three players in the top 15 in the Big Ten in steals: Sheldon, Celeste Taylor (4th) and Taylor Thierry (6th)
Michigan State
G- DeeDee Hagemann
G- Moira Joiner
G- Abbey Kimball
G- Julia Ayrault
F- Jocelyn Tate
Lineup Notes
- This group of players is likely to start its 21st game together Sunday, going 16-4 in the previous 20 games.
- Junior guard DeeDee Hagemann is one assist away from having 400 in her career.
- Michigan State’s 53 points against the Hoosiers in Thursday’s first half was the highest in a half all season.
Prediction
Sunday will play out a lot like the first meeting between the sides, except the Buckeyes offense will play better. Shooting from beyond the arc will be improved, and the full court press of Ohio State will play better than on Jan. 14.
Sheldon matches up against a similar style guard in Hagemann, but the graduate senior will get the better of the junior on Sunday, leading the Buckeyes in scoring. Especially from three-point range.
How to Watch
Date: Sunday, February 11, 2024
Time: 4:00 p.m. ET
Where: Breslin Arena, East Lansing, Michigan
Stream: Peacock
LGHL Prediction: 88-79 Ohio State Buckeyes
Unfortunate Scheduling
Sports and Taylor Swift fans all across the country know that Sunday means the Super Bowl. Whether people are there to watch the game, halftime show or commercials, one group missing most of it will be the Buckeyes.
The Buckeyes 4:00 p.m. ET tip starts two hours before the Super Bowl kicks off at 6:30 p.m. ET. That means the game likely ends near 6:00 p.m. ET, followed by a postgame talk, media and then preparing to fly or bus home.
While the game beats watching hours of pregame coverage for the big game, there are lingering questions why games are scheduled close to the Super Bowl in the first place.
Continue reading...
Columbus Symphony Orchestra wants to build $275 million performance space
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Columbus Symphony Orchestra wants to build $275 million performance space
The Columbus Symphony Orchestra is banking on state grants and private donations to help fund the costly facility.
www.wosu.org
