No. 13 Ohio State faced a bit of a test in Northwestern, facing a 13-2 team on the road, but the Buckeyes made short work of the Wildcats, downing them 94-87 to remain undefeated in Big Ten play.
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio State | 31 | 23 | 14 | 26 | 94 |
| Northwestern | 28 | 14 | 21 | 24 | 87 |
Northwestern forward Nia Coffey created all sorts of problems for the Buckeyes, Tuesday night. The senior led her team with 22 points and 13 rebounds, giving her a double-double.
Thankfully for Ohio State, it had its own star. Kelsey Mitchell put up a game-high 33 points on a 11-for-24 shooting performance to carry her team to a hard-fought road victory. She also tallied a season-high seven assists.
| OHIO STATE | STAT | Northwestern |
|---|---|---|
| 94 | POINTS | 87 |
| 32-76 (42%) | FGM-FGA (PCT.) | 29-71 (41%) |
| 13-29 (45%) | 3PM-3PA (PCT.) | 12-27 (44%) |
| 17-22 (81%) | FTM-FTA (PCT.) | 17-21 (77%) |
| 14 | TURNOVERS | 12 |
| 54 | TOTAL REBOUNDS | 38 |
| 18 | OFFENSIVE REBOUNDS | 9 |
| 36 | DEFENSIVE REBOUNDS | 29 |
| 28 | BENCH POINTS | 22 |
| 5 | BLOCKS | 4 |
| 6 | STEALS | 10 |
| 15 | ASSISTS | 23 |
She wasn't alone though – fellow guard Linnae Harper also came up huge with her second double-double as a Buckeye. The Kentucky transfer finished with 11 points and 11 rebounds, leading the way for the Buckeyes on the boards despite only standing 5-8.
Three other Buckeyes finished in double figures as well – Asia Doss (13), Sierra Calhoun (11) and Tori McCoy (10). On the boards, Stephanie Mavunga and Shayla Cooper each had nine rebounds to help Ohio State to a decisive 54-38 rebounding advantage.
The Buckeyes were in control from the beginning, holding the lead for almost the entire first half. Ohio State topped Northwestern in nearly every category – points, shooting percentage, rebounds, steals – and took a 54-42 lead into the half.
The Wildcats stormed back in the second half, outscoring the Buckeyes 14-4 out the gate to cut the lead to just two points. Ohio State weathered the storm however, and took a 68 to 63 lead into the fourth quarter.
In the fourth, the Buckeyes held strong, hitting their free-throws when it counted and Northwestern was unable to close the gap. Ohio State left Evanston with a 94-87 victory.
With the win, Ohio State moves to a perfect 3-0 in Big Ten conference play. The Buckeyes are next in action Saturday when they host rival Michigan at noon.
