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Game Preview: No. 15 Ohio State women’s basketball vs. Oklahoma State
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MITCH ALCALA/ FOR THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK
The Big Ten and Big 12 sides battle for OSU supremacy
The Ohio State women’s basketball team is back for its final game in the Bahamas. Up next in the Baha Mar Pink Flamingo Championship is a matchup against the Oklahoma State University Cowgirls.
Its a game between two Power Five conference schools, and an increase in opponent difficulty for a Buckeyes team still searching for a marquee victory.
The matchup for Wednesday’s game against the other OSU couldn’t be more different than Monday’s game against the East Carolina Pirates.
Against the Pirates, the Buckeyes had a team that lives on forcing turnovers and making high percentage shots. Also, a side that doesn’t turn those quick changes in possession into shots from deep. Wednesday’s game against Oklahoma State University sits on the other side of the basketball tactical spectrum.
Oklahoma State has strong shooters and will stretch the Buckeyes’ half court defense like few teams have so far in the 2023-24 season. Anchoring the Cowgirls from deep is a familiar name to Big Ten fans in forward Lior Garzon.
Older sister to Indiana University forward Yarden Garzon, the Oklahoma State Garzon has similar tendencies to the Hoosier — mainly in shooting from deep. Last season, Garzon broke the Oklahoma school record for made threes in a season, with 80. That was in the forward’s first year with Oklahoma State following a transfer from Villanova after her sophomore season. This season, Garzon is on track to hit more, with a caveat that the Buckeyes will need to watch.
On Monday, the Cowgirls faced another Big Ten school in the Penn State Nittany Lions. Garzon made three from deep, but took 10 shots. This year, the Israeli big is shooting more than any previous season, and hitting far fewer shots. That means the Buckeyes could be more busy on the perimeter than they’ve been all season, because it's not just Garzon Ohio State needs to worry about.
Leading Oklahoma State is junior guard Anna Gret Asi. This season, Asi is taking only two less threes per game than Garzon (6.3) but is making 44% of her long distance attempts. The former Arizona Wildcat’s been on a tear in her second season with the Cowgirls.
Before traveling for the Pink Flamingo Championship, Asi helped Oklahoma State University stay competitive against the then No. 5 ranked Colorado Buffaloes. Asi went 6-for-10 from deep, leading all OSU scorers with 25 points in the 86-75 defeat.
That’s going to make for a busy day on defense for the duo of guards Jacy Sheldon, Celeste Taylor and Taylor Thierry. The 6-foot-1 Garzon can take Thierry out of the paint where the Buckeye’s been effective this season, leading Ohio State with 26 rebounds in four games. The other option is the slightly shorter Taylor, who was put on ECU’s top scorer, guard Danae McNeal, and held the 19 points per game averaging guard to 11 points Monday.
Either Taylor of Sheldon will give Asi troubles, both playing with speed and strong work defensively. Screens and Oklahoma State working on mismatches on defense will be something that can hurt the Buckeyes against confident deep shooters.
Against Penn State Monday, the Cowgirls played a back-and-forth first half before falling to a double-digit deficit. That’s when defensively, Oklahoma State shifted. The Cowgirls moved to a half court press, causing issues at mid-court for whoever brings the ball up. Oklahoma State transformed a third quarter nine-point lead to a three-point advantage before the Nittany Lions ultimately pulled away.
Fortunately for the scarlet and gray, Ohio State faced a press in droves on Monday against ECU. As long as shooting can stay consistent, something the Buckeyes struggled with against the USC Trojans and in the second quarter against the Pirates, it should be a game favoring the Buckeyes.
It will be an Ohio State victory, but how close it is depends on the Buckeyes ability to keep its scoring diverse. Without a strong presence in the paint on the Cowgirls, Mikulášiková and Thierry will have more chances at points in the paint, and additional room for forward Cotie McMahon.
Taylor will have her best scoring game as a Buckeye, passing the 11 points scored against IUPUI on Nov. 12. Oklahoma State will hit shots from deep but not at a strong clip with the work of Ohio State’s guards.
Date: Monday, Nov. 20, 2023
Time: 5:30 p.m. ET
Where: Baha Mar Resort, Nassau, Bahamas
Stream: FloHoops
Wednesday is only the second time the two most popular OSU schools have faced off. Back in 2009, Ohio State defeated Oklahoma State in the preseason NIT. Back then it was different Buckeyes stars putting in the work, like forward and All-American Jantel Lavender scoring a team high 26 points. Also, guard and eventual 2009 Big Ten Freshman of the Year Samantha Prahalis had nine assists.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25103687/usa_today_3650312.jpg "NCAA Womens Basketball: Division I Championship-Ohio State vs Sacred Heart")
Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
That season Ohio State had a 31-5 record but a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament and a Big Ten Tournament championship wasn’t enough to get the Buckeyes out of the second round. That’s when an upset-minded No. 7 seed, Mississippi State, beat the scarlet and gray 87-67.
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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
MITCH ALCALA/ FOR THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK
The Big Ten and Big 12 sides battle for OSU supremacy
The Ohio State women’s basketball team is back for its final game in the Bahamas. Up next in the Baha Mar Pink Flamingo Championship is a matchup against the Oklahoma State University Cowgirls.
Its a game between two Power Five conference schools, and an increase in opponent difficulty for a Buckeyes team still searching for a marquee victory.
Preview
The matchup for Wednesday’s game against the other OSU couldn’t be more different than Monday’s game against the East Carolina Pirates.
Against the Pirates, the Buckeyes had a team that lives on forcing turnovers and making high percentage shots. Also, a side that doesn’t turn those quick changes in possession into shots from deep. Wednesday’s game against Oklahoma State University sits on the other side of the basketball tactical spectrum.
Oklahoma State has strong shooters and will stretch the Buckeyes’ half court defense like few teams have so far in the 2023-24 season. Anchoring the Cowgirls from deep is a familiar name to Big Ten fans in forward Lior Garzon.
Older sister to Indiana University forward Yarden Garzon, the Oklahoma State Garzon has similar tendencies to the Hoosier — mainly in shooting from deep. Last season, Garzon broke the Oklahoma school record for made threes in a season, with 80. That was in the forward’s first year with Oklahoma State following a transfer from Villanova after her sophomore season. This season, Garzon is on track to hit more, with a caveat that the Buckeyes will need to watch.
On Monday, the Cowgirls faced another Big Ten school in the Penn State Nittany Lions. Garzon made three from deep, but took 10 shots. This year, the Israeli big is shooting more than any previous season, and hitting far fewer shots. That means the Buckeyes could be more busy on the perimeter than they’ve been all season, because it's not just Garzon Ohio State needs to worry about.
Leading Oklahoma State is junior guard Anna Gret Asi. This season, Asi is taking only two less threes per game than Garzon (6.3) but is making 44% of her long distance attempts. The former Arizona Wildcat’s been on a tear in her second season with the Cowgirls.
Before traveling for the Pink Flamingo Championship, Asi helped Oklahoma State University stay competitive against the then No. 5 ranked Colorado Buffaloes. Asi went 6-for-10 from deep, leading all OSU scorers with 25 points in the 86-75 defeat.
That’s going to make for a busy day on defense for the duo of guards Jacy Sheldon, Celeste Taylor and Taylor Thierry. The 6-foot-1 Garzon can take Thierry out of the paint where the Buckeye’s been effective this season, leading Ohio State with 26 rebounds in four games. The other option is the slightly shorter Taylor, who was put on ECU’s top scorer, guard Danae McNeal, and held the 19 points per game averaging guard to 11 points Monday.
Either Taylor of Sheldon will give Asi troubles, both playing with speed and strong work defensively. Screens and Oklahoma State working on mismatches on defense will be something that can hurt the Buckeyes against confident deep shooters.
Against Penn State Monday, the Cowgirls played a back-and-forth first half before falling to a double-digit deficit. That’s when defensively, Oklahoma State shifted. The Cowgirls moved to a half court press, causing issues at mid-court for whoever brings the ball up. Oklahoma State transformed a third quarter nine-point lead to a three-point advantage before the Nittany Lions ultimately pulled away.
Fortunately for the scarlet and gray, Ohio State faced a press in droves on Monday against ECU. As long as shooting can stay consistent, something the Buckeyes struggled with against the USC Trojans and in the second quarter against the Pirates, it should be a game favoring the Buckeyes.
Lineup Notes
- After a slow start to the season offensively, forward Rebeka Mikulášiková got hot in the second half against the Pirates, scoring eight points and going 2-for-2 from deep.
- Guard Jacy Sheldon had no steals against ECU, the first time the point guard hasn’t logged a steal in 20 games, dating back to the 2022 Big Ten Tournament semifinal against the Indiana Hoosiers.
- Although guard Celeste Taylor is fifth on the team in scoring, the graduate senior leads the Buckeyes in assists (3.5) and steals (3.9) per game.
Lineup Notes
- The Cowgirls will rotate like the Buckeyes, with two Oklahoma State players averaging more minutes than starters in forward Chandler Prater and guard Kennedy Fauntleroy.
- Of Oklahoma State’s five starters, only one hasn’t transferred into the program. Only two players overall who have seen the court this season started their college basketball careers in Stillwater, OK.
- Against Penn State, three OSU players hit three shots from deep: Asi, Garzon and guard Quincy Noble. Only three of the 10 Cowgirls who received minutes on Monday took at least two shots from beyond the arc.
Prediction
It will be an Ohio State victory, but how close it is depends on the Buckeyes ability to keep its scoring diverse. Without a strong presence in the paint on the Cowgirls, Mikulášiková and Thierry will have more chances at points in the paint, and additional room for forward Cotie McMahon.
Taylor will have her best scoring game as a Buckeye, passing the 11 points scored against IUPUI on Nov. 12. Oklahoma State will hit shots from deep but not at a strong clip with the work of Ohio State’s guards.
How to Watch
Date: Monday, Nov. 20, 2023
Time: 5:30 p.m. ET
Where: Baha Mar Resort, Nassau, Bahamas
Stream: FloHoops
LGHL Prediction: 87-75 Ohio State Buckeyes
OSU v OSU
Wednesday is only the second time the two most popular OSU schools have faced off. Back in 2009, Ohio State defeated Oklahoma State in the preseason NIT. Back then it was different Buckeyes stars putting in the work, like forward and All-American Jantel Lavender scoring a team high 26 points. Also, guard and eventual 2009 Big Ten Freshman of the Year Samantha Prahalis had nine assists.
That season Ohio State had a 31-5 record but a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament and a Big Ten Tournament championship wasn’t enough to get the Buckeyes out of the second round. That’s when an upset-minded No. 7 seed, Mississippi State, beat the scarlet and gray 87-67.
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