It took some time to get into a rhythm, but No. 3 Ohio State (11-0, 2-0 Big Ten) eventually turned on the jets in a 82-57 win over Albany (6-7) on Friday evening behind the performance of freshman forward Cotie McMahon, who finished with a career-high 24 points.
The Buckeyes led by just a possession at the half – and even trailed 25-24 at one point during the game’s first two quarters – but outscored the Great Danes 48-26 in the second half to run away with the win.
McMahon showed up to play early, however, scoring the first 9 points of the game for Ohio State and finishing the first quarter with 11 points on 5-of-6 shooting as the Buckeyes held a 21-12 lead.
Albany began heating up in the second quarter, opening on an 8-0 run and later tying the game up, 27-27, with 4:56 remaining in the frame. The Great Danes found some success breaking Ohio State’s full-court press and were especially effective from deep, finishing the first half 5 of 10 from three-point range.
After Albany tied the game (and had previously taken the lead), Ohio State was once again saved by McMahon, who contributed a triple and a layup as the Buckeyes went into the locker room up just 34-31.
The Great Danes looked to continue that first-half momentum in the early stages of the second half, scoring on their first possession, but McMahon responded with a jumper and a steal, one which she dished to guard Taylor Mikesell for a basket to give Ohio State a 38-33 lead.
McMahon later made another pivotal play, grabbing a defensive rebound and charging down the court before opting to pass it outside to Greene, who knocked down a triple to make it 47-37 in favor of the Buckeyes.
Ohio State later led 52-39 – the largest lead of the game to that point – after back-to-back baskets by forward Rebeka Mikulášiková, and ended the third quarter up 59-43. Overall, the Buckeyes outscored the Great Danes 25-12 in the frame while shooting 10 of 17 from the field.
Harboring a 16-point lead entering the fourth, the Buckeyes continued to dominate the Great Danes, outscoring them 23-14 in the quarter for the 82-57 final.
McMahon led the Buckeyes in scoring on a dominant performance from the field, earning her career-high on 10-of-15 shooting, and added seven rebounds. Mikesell (13 points) and Greene (11 points) also hit double digits, while Albany forward Helene Haegerstrand led the Great Danes with 21 points on 10-of-16 shooting.