Using some highly-efficient shooting, No. 14 Ohio State (16-2, 6-1 Big Ten) picked up a 108-84 win over Penn State (7-11, 0-7) at the Schottenstein center on Wednesday night. It wasn’t always perfect for the Buckeyes defensively, but sophomore point guard Jaloni Cambridge, junior guard Chance Gray, sophomore center Elsa Lemmilä combined for 77 points, and the entire team shot 42-74 from the field (56.8 percent), including 17-36 (47.2 percent) from three-point range. The Buckeyes’ 17 three-pointers were a season-high total.
From the opening tip, Ohio State set the tone with its aggressive defense and selfless offensive play. The Buckeyes opened the game on a 14-0 run over the first 4:40 of the game after forcing six turnovers. Lemmilä helped Ohio State capitalize on Penn State’s turnovers by making three layups. Jaloni Cambridge also had an impressive start to the night. As part of the Buckeyes’ game-opening 14-0 scoring run, she made two three-point jumpers.
After Penn State got on the board with a 7-2 scoring run, Cambridge made her third three-point jumper at the 2:43 mark to put the Buckeyes ahead 19-7.
Cambridge’s third triple was followed by a 7-0 run from the Nittany Lions. Cambridge broke Penn State’s run with a mid-range jumper, but Penn State center Grace Merkle ended the second quarter with her third basket of the game, which made the score 21-16 heading into the second quarter.
After both teams traded baskets to start the second quarter, Junior guard Chance Gray helped Ohio State grow its lead to eight with a three-point jumper. After Penn State scored the next two baskets, Cambridge scored seven straight points to cap a 9-0 run for the Buckeyes.
Trailing 42-29, Penn State had an answer for Ohio State’s run. Led by sophomore guard Kiyomi McMiller and redshirt junior guard Moriah Murray, who each made threes on the run, Penn State went on a 15-4 scoring run that made the score 46-44.
The Buckeyes closed the first half on an 8-2 scoring spurt, capped by a three-point jumper from sophomore guard Ava Watson, to lead 54-46 at halftime.
Penn State opened the scoring in the third quarter, but Ohio State went on an 11-4 run over the next 4:00 to lead 65-52.
Murray briefly halted Ohio State’s momentum with a triple, but Gray helped lead the Buckeyes on a 10-2 scoring run with a pair of three-point jumpers
Murray made a three-pointer at the end of the third quarter, but Ohio State still led 82-63 heading into the final frame.
Ohio State wasn’t as efficient offensively to start the fourth quarter as it was the rest of the game. The Buckeyes connected on just one of their first six field goals, as Penn State opened the final quarter on a 9-2 scoring run. Soon after the Nittany Lions’ spurt, though, Ohio State ended any chance of a Penn State comeback with a massive 16-2 scoring run. Gray was the one who closed the game out for Ohio State. She led Ohio State on the run with a trio of three-pointers.
Cambridge was once again Ohio State’s leading-scorer. She had (33 points) while Gray (23 points) and Lemmilä (21 points) weren’t far behind her lead.
Redshirt freshman forward Kylee Kitts led Ohio State with six rebounds, while junior guard Kennedy Cambridge had a game-high eight assists.
It wasn’t a great night for the Buckeyes’ defense. They allowed Penn State to shoot 35-75 (46.7 percent) from the floor.
Murray led Penn State with 25 points on 8-17 shooting.
