Both teams are 5-0 in their last 5 games. Illinois is in 2nd place in the Big while Ohio State is 1st. Tipoff is about an half hour away.
The Ohio State Buckeyes (16-0, 5-0 Big Ten) are attempting to add to a 16-game winning streak when they host the Illinois Fighting Illini (14-2, 4-1 Big Ten) at 1:00 PM ET on Sunday, January 8, 2023. The Fighting Illini have won seven games in a row. Ohio State knocked off Minnesota 83-71 in the team's last action on Thursday, led by Taylor Mikesell's team-high 22 points. Illinois defeated Northwestern 85-79 in the team's last action on Thursday, led by Makira Cook's team-high 23 points.
Ohio State Team Stats
Ohio State has put up 87 points per game this season while Illinois allows 60.8 per contest. The Buckeyes are 16-0 when they score over 61 points. In the 2022-23 campaign, the Buckeyes are averaging 18.9 assists and 13.9 turnovers per game. When Ohio State has a better assist-to-turnover ratio than its season mark of 1.36, the Buckeyes are 8-0.
Illinois Team Stats
Illinois heads into the meeting putting up 81.3 points per game, 19.2 more than the 62.1 Ohio State allows per contest. The Fighting Illini are 14-1 in games where they put up more than 62 points. The Fighting Illini hit 77.1 percent of their free throws as a team, the second-best mark in the Big Ten and 25th-best in the country. Adalia Mckenzie knocks down 3.5 free throws per game to lead Illinois while connecting on 70 percent of her attempts at the line.
Ohio State Players to Watch
Mikesell, Ohio State's top scorer, is averaging 18.1 points and 1.8 steals per game. Taylor Thierry leads the Buckeyes with 6.5 rebounds per game and adds 12.3 points, while Madison Greene paces the team with 5.0 assists and averages 10.9 points. Mikesell leads Ohio State's three-point shooting efforts, knocking down three threes per game while connecting on 39 percent of her shots from downtown.
Illinois Players to Watch
Cook leads Illinois in points, scoring 18.8 a contest, and assists with 4.0 per game. Mckenzie adds 16.3 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.6 steals for the Fighting Illini, while Bryant averages 14.6 points and 3.8 assists per game. Illinois' three-point shooting attack is led by Genesis Bryant, who averages 2.4 made three-pointers per game while hitting 50 percent of her shots from beyond the arc.
