Led by sophomore point guard Jaloni Cambridge, who scored 26 points, No. 9 Ohio State (21-3, 10-2 Big Ten) picked up a 70-60 road win over No. 24 Washington (17-6, 7-5 Big Ten) on Thursday.
As usual, Cambridge was the Buckeyes’ leader on offense, but as a team, Ohio State had an efficient offensive performance. The Buckeyes connected on 30-62 field goals (48.4 percent), including 5-16 (31.3 percent) from three-point range.
Ohio State couldn’t have dreamt of a better offensive start against the Huskies. The Buckeyes made seven of their first 11 field goal attempts to take a 14-8 lead into the first media timeout. Cambridge was spectacular to start the game. She scored eight of Ohio State’s first 14 points, but committed two early fouls and had to sit for the final 3:53 of the first quarter.
The Buckeyes still made shots with Cambridge on the bench. Senior guard Chance Gray extended Ohio State’s lead to 11 with a three-point jumper, and after Washington snapped a scoreless streak with a layup, sophomore guard Ava Watson drained a three-point jumper.
The Huskies scored the final four points of the quarter, but Ohio State still led 22-14 headed into the second quarter.
The Buckeyes scored the first three points of the second quarter on a jumper from Cambridge and a free throw from sophomore center Elsa Lemmilä, however, they subsequently went on a lengthy scoring drought. Ohio State failed to score for 4:35, and Washington went on a 9-0 scoring run to trail 25-23.
Cambridge finally snapped Ohio State’s drought, and after both teams traded baskets, the Buckeyes took a 31-27 lead into halftime.
The Buckeyes started the second half much like they started the first. Ohio State scored the first four points of the third quarter and Gray drained a triple to keep the lead at 8.
Cambridge scored four straight to make it 42-32, but Washington’s Sayvia Sellers answered with a three-point jumper.
Junior guard Kennedy Cambridge made a three-pointer of her own on the other end and after a Washington make, Ohio State scored six straight to lead 51-37.
Washington answered with three straight points, but Ohio State freshman Brynn Martin connected on a three-pointer to put the Buckeyes ahead 54-40.
Washington cut Ohio State’s lead within single-digits on the first possession of the fourth quarter, but Ohio State created a comfortable 62-47 lead with an 8-2 scoring run.
The Huskies battled back. Sellers scored six points as part of an 8-0 run to cut Ohio State’s lead to 62-55.
Gray made a layup to briefly stop the run, but Sellers scored the next five points to make it 64-60 with 2:09 remaining. Just when it seemed like the Huskies were poised to storm in front. Cambridge made a crucial mid-range jumper with 1:38 on the clock to put Ohio State ahead by six.
The Huskies wouldn’t score for the rest of the game, as Ohio State secured its 10-point victory.
Lemmilä (13 points) and Gray (12 points) also reached double-figures in scoring. Gray led the Buckeyes with four assists and Lemmilä (nine rebounds) was the team’s leading-rebounder.
The Buckeyes were outrebounded 35-30, but forced 19 turnovers and only committed 11.
Sellers was by far Washington’s leading-scorer. She matched Cambridge’s game-high total of 26 points, after making 9-16 field goals.
