Behind 22 points from star sophomore guard Jaloni Cambridge and a tenacious defensive effort, No. 12 Ohio State (18-2, 7-1 Big Ten ) overcame a 15-point deficit to defeat Indiana (11-9, 0-8 Big Ten).
Although Indiana was extremely efficient from beyond the arc, making 11-17 three-pointers, Ohio State forced 26 turnovers and only committed seven.
The Buckeyes have had plenty of slow starts this season, but against the Hoosiers, the first 5:30 were especially ugly.
After getting out to an early 5-4 lead, Indiana went on a 14-0 scoring run to build a huge 19-4 lead. On the run, the Buckeyes were held scoreless for over four minutes, and Indiana made four three-pointers.
The Buckeyes defense improved in the last four minutes of the second quarter. They held the Hoosiers scoreless for over three minutes to respond with their own 13-0 run.
Making her first start in her career, sophomore guard Ava Watson led the Buckeyes on the run with five points.
Indiana sophomore forward Zania Socka-Nguemen ended Ohio State’s run with a layup, but Ohio State only trailed 21-17 headed into the second quarter.
Sophomore point guard Jaloni Cambridge helped pull Ohio State within with a mid-range jumper with 6:35 left before halftime, but the Hoosiers scored five straight to make it 29-23.
Cambridge ended Indiana’s run with a three-pointer, but Indiana scored seven straight to extend its lead to 36-26.
Sophomore center Elsa Lemmilä got the Buckeyes back on the board with a layup, but that didn’t stop Indiana’s momentum.
Indiana senior guard Shay Ciezki drained a three-pointer, and after a make from Jaloni Cambridge, the Hoosiers went up 12 after an and-1 layup.
Junior guard Kennedy Cambridge had a steal and layup in the final 30 seconds of the first half, but the Hoosiers still 42-32 at the break.
Indiana grew its lead to 12 after the first 2:11 of the second half, but Watson made a three-pointer as part of a 7-0 scoring run for Ohio State. The Hoosiers broke a scoring drought that lasted over 3:00 with a free throw, but the Buckeyes took their first lead of the game with a 9-0 scoring run that made the score 50-47.
The Buckeyes’ run was fueled by a sequence where Kennedy Cambridge came up with a steal before her sister tied the game at 47 with a three-point jumper. Then after Bryn Martin had a steal, she made a triple to create the lead.
Indiana made a pair of free throws to end the run, but Ohio State led by four after an and-1 layup by senior guard Chance Gray.
Indiana scored four straight to tie the game at 53, but Ohio State ended the quarter with its own 4-0 spurt to lead 59-55 entering the fourth quarter.
The Buckeyes picked up right where they left off in the fourth quarter, scoring the first four points to make it 63-55.
Ciezki helped Indiana cut Ohio State’s lead to 65-60 with a triple at the 6:37 mark, but Martin provided an answer with an and-1 layup and Watson made it 70-60 seconds later with a steal and layup.
Both teams traded baskets, but Ohio State created a 12-point lead when Gray made a triple and Cambridge split a pair at the free throw line.
From there, Indiana would only get as close as 10 points, before Ohio State cemented the 14-point win.
Jaloni Cambridge was Ohio State’s leading-scorer in the win, but it was a balanced offensive approach, as Kennedy Cambridge (13 points), Watson (12 points), Martin (11 points), Gray (13 points) and all reached double-figures.
Ohio State was outrebounded 30-21 on the night, but Lemmilä grabbed a team-high six rebounds. Jaloni Cambridge led Ohio State with five assists in the win.
Indiana was led by redshirt sophomore guard Lennee Beaumont (20 points) and Ciezki (19 points), who combined for 39 of the team’s 67 points.
