Missouri State (25-7) vs Ohio State (23-6) battle in first round action. Ohio State is favored by 5.5 points.
Ohio State fell to Indiana 70-62 in the team's last outing on Saturday. Jacy Sheldon notched a team-high 22 points in the losing effort.
Missouri State beat Florida State 61-50 on Thursday in the team's most recent action, led by Mya Bhinhar's 12-point scoring effort in the win.
Ohio State Team Stats
Ohio State heads into the matchup tallying 79.2 points per game, 25.9 more than the 53.3 Missouri State allows per contest. The Buckeyes are 23-6 in games where they put up more than 53 points.
The Buckeyes have out-shot their opponents from downtown this season, connecting on 8.4 three-pointers per game while giving up 5.7 made threes by their opponents. When Ohio State shoots its average from beyond the arc this season, the Buckeyes are 11-4.
Missouri State Team Stats
The Lady Bears average 64.7 points per game, 1.2 fewer than Ohio State's per-game average points allowed. Missouri State is 20-2 when it reaches the 66-point mark on the year.
When they get to the free throw line, which they do 19.5 times a game, the Lady Bears shoot 73.2 percent, which is fourth in the MVC. Brice Calip is Missouri State's best shooter from the line, making 3.8 free throws a game while shooting 77 percent.
Ohio State Players to Watch
Sheldon is Ohio State's leading scorer, averaging 19.5 points a contest, and best passer with 4.0 assists per game. Taylor Mikesell adds 18.8 points for the Buckeyes, and Rebeka Mikulasikova contributes 9.7 points and 5.2 rebounds per game.
Averaging 3.6 made three-pointers a contest, Mikesell is Ohio State's most prolific three-point shooter while knocking down 47 percent of her shots from downtown.
Missouri State Players to Watch
Abi Jackson averages 13.0 points and 6.8 rebounds per game, leading Missouri State in both scoring and rebounding. The Lady Bears also get 11.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 2.1 steals from Calip, while Sydney Wilson adds 10.9 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game.
Wilson has proven to be the biggest threat for Missouri State from beyond the arc. She leads the team in made threes per game, knocking down one three-pointer per contest (making 27 percent of her attempts).
Go Buckeyes!
