No. 10 Ohio State Suffers Fourth Loss In Last Five Games, Falls 90-54 To No. 8 Maryland

No. 10 Ohio State suffered its fourth loss in its last five games on Sunday, falling on the road at No. 8 Maryland in a 90-54 blowout.

The loss came despite the Buckeyes (20-4, 9-4 Big Ten) welcoming back guard Jacy Sheldon, who took the court for the first time since Nov. 30. The Terrapins (19-5, 10-3) shot 52.3 percent from the field while forcing 24 turnovers (a season-high for Ohio State), resulting in 24 points.

Ohio State looked in step with Maryland through the game’s first minutes, fighting back from an early deficit to tie it up at seven with 4:29 left in the first. That jumper from guard Taylor Thierry to tie it was the last points of the opening frame for the Buckeyes as the Terrapins closed on a 12-0 run to lead 19-7 at the end of the first.

During that 12-0 run, Ohio State turned the ball over six times and missed all four shots from the field. Maryland guard Abby Meyers accounted for eight points during the run, finishing the opening frame with 11 points.

Maryland’s run continued into the second quarter, with the Terrapins scoring the first pair of baskets of the frame before Thierry broke through by converting on an and-one opportunity to make it 23-12 under a minute into the frame.

Guard Taylor Mikesell scrapped to keep the Buckeyes close, scoring on two separate occasions to cut the deficit to single digits, but the Terrapins increased their lead to as many as 14 points before going into the half up 42-30.

Maryland continued to pile on in the third, leading by as many as 25 points during the quarter. Most of that dominance was courtesy of guard Diamond Miller, who had 16 points in the frame and personally outscored Ohio State, which had just 14 points in the quarter.

The Buckeyes were out of sorts in almost every phases in the game, shooting just 35.7 percent in the quarter and turning the ball over six times. Ohio State also got into significant foul trouble, with guard Rikki Harris, forward Cotie McMahon and Thierry each picking up their fourth fouls in the third.

The fourth quarter was of little consequence as the Buckeyes trailed 69-44 entering the final frame, and Ohio State was outscored 21-10 in the quarter. The Buckeyes ended the contest with 22 fouls – of which McMahon and Thierry fouled out – compared to just 11 for the Terrapins on their home court.

Thierry and Mikesell were the only Buckeyes to reach double digits, with Thierry scoring 21 points and pulling down seven rebounds while Mikesell added 12 on just 5-of-19 shooting. Sheldon played just 25 minutes in her return, scoring 5 points on 2-of-8 shooting.

The Terrapins were led by Miller, who finished with a double-double behind 29 points and 10 rebounds. Miller and guard Shyanne Sellers finished with 22 and 19 points, respectively, while Sellers dished out nine assists.

Ohio State returns home on Wednesday to take on Minnesota, with the contest set to tip off at 7 p.m. on Big Ten Plus.