On Sunday, Feb. 27, 2022, the Ohio State women’s basketball team defeated the Michigan State Spartans 61-55 after a fourth quarter battle in East Lansing, Michigan. The victory put the Buckeyes in a position to win the Big Ten regular season title, but they still needed help. Ohio State needed their heated rivals, the Michigan Wolverines, to lose their game against the Iowa Hawkeyes for the Scarlet & Gray to win a piece of the prize.
Unfortunately for the Buckeyes, they took flight as Iowa and Michigan were still on the court. As the plane reached altitude, and out of reach of any phone signal to keep watching the game, Ohio State laid in waiting until they descended from the clouds. As the plane came back down to the Earth, the Buckeyes went back up into the clouds figuratively when a flight attendant came on the intercom and congratulated the 2021-22 Big Ten champions.
“I’m literally getting chills about it right now,” said Ohio State junior Jacqueline Roberts recounting the moment she found out her and everyone else on that plane secured the Buckeyes’ 14th conference regular season title.
A quick search of the Scarlet & Gray’s roster won’t include the name “Jacqueline Roberts”, but her and a group of dedicated students are there for every moment: Winning championships, the tough defeats and in the empty underbelly of the Schottenstein Center after late night returns from road trips.
She's a member of the Ohio State women’s basketball managers.
Ohio State managers (from left to right): Gaby Schorling, Joe Gryboski, Cameron Carter, Jacqueline Roberts, Ohio State director of scouting and player development Ryan Murray, Allie Hiegel, Danielle Mathews, CJ Williams and Christie Longo