OSU Improves To 6-1 With Largest Win In Program History, Defeating Niagara 130-32

Ohio State (6-1)’s 130-32 win over Niagara (0-7) was its largest in program history. The Buckeyes’ previous largest margin of victory was 70 points. Ohio State also scored the most points in a single game in program history in the win. Ohio State was incredibly efficient on both ends in its historic victory. Ohio State shot 52-85 from the field (61.2 percent) and held the Purple Eagles to just 10-63 shooting (15.9 percent).

The Buckeyes wanted no time in creating a huge lead in their win. The Buckeyes held Niagara without a field goal for nearly seven minutes to start the game. In the meantime, Ohio State didn’t shoot very well on the other end. The Buckeyes made only six of their first 16 field goals, but because the defense was so strong to start the game they had an 18-1 lead with 3:24 remaining in the first quarter. Niagara’s first field goal came when senior guard Talia Dial made a layup at the 3:09 mark, but Ohio State closed the opening quarter on an 8-3 scoring run.

The Buckeyes’ defensive dominance continued in the second quarter. They held the Eagles without a point for nearly five minutes to open the second quarter, and sophomore point guard Jaloni Cambridge and freshman guard Daria Biruk combined for nine points during a 12-0 run that made the score 40-6.

Niagara guard Caliana Fenceroy helped get her team on the board in the second with four points in a span of less than 40 seconds, but Ohio State responded scoring the next 14 points, before going into halftime with a 57-12 halftime lead. The 45-point advantage the Buckeyes had at halftime was their largest halftime lead in program history.

The Buckeyes didn’t relax after halftime, instead they opened the third quarter on an 18-2 scoring run that made the score 75-14.

After Dial ended yet another Niagara scoring drought, Ohio State stretched its lead past 70 points when freshman guard Daria Biriuk drained two straight three-pointers during the middle of the third quarter.

Sophomore guard Ava Watson helped Ohio State stretch its to 81 with a two-point jumper that came with 30 seconds left in the third quarter.

Despite using a lineup that consisted of several young players, the Buckeyes had no issues in the fourth quarter. They outscored Niagara 31-11 in the final 10 minutes.

Biriuk and fellow freshman guard Brynn Martin were Ohio State’s two leading scorers in the win. Biriuk had a game-high 25 points, while Martin followed closely behind with 21 points. Watson, who scored 15 points in the game, led Ohio State with 10 assists and seven steals.

Redshirt freshman forward Seini Henry had a team-high 10 rebounds.

Niagara was led by Dial and Fenceroy in the loss, each player finished the game with nine points.