Ohio State redshirt senior forward Stephanie Mavunga shoots through contact during the Buckeyes’ game against Washington on Nov. 19. Credit: Colin Hass-Hill | Sports Editor
The No. 10 Ohio State women’s basketball team (15-2, 4-0 Big Ten) will look to expand its eight-game win streak when it takes on Indiana (8-10, 1-4 Big Ten) on the road at noon Saturday.
The Buckeyes, the only undefeated team in conference play, hope to continue creating separation atop the Big Ten from No. 11 Maryland, No. 18 Iowa and No. 21 Rutgers. Buckeyes head coach Kevin McGuff hopes to lead Ohio State to a 5-0 record in the Big Ten for the first time in eight seasons.
The Buckeyes’ last meeting against the Hoosiers came Dec. 31, when senior guard Kelsey Mitchell helped lead the team to a 85-70 victory with 22 points. Ohio State jumped out to an early 32-13 lead after the first quarter and continued adding to the advantage before Indiana outscored its opponent 21-12 in the fourth quarter after the game was out of hand.
The Hoosiers were limited to just 33 percent shooting from the field and turned the ball over 15 times.
Though the Hoosiers have struggled this season, it has not been for a lack of production out of their two seniors, guard Tyra Buss and forward Amanda Cahill. Buss leads the team with 20.4 points per game, while Cahill leads in rebounds with 8.1 per game and is second in points per game with 13.7.
“[Buss and Cahill are] so good, I don’t think we’re going to just not let them do anything,” McGuff said. “Just make them earn everything they get and try to limit them a little bit, but they’re going to score, they’re going to play well. We can’t let them go crazy because they’re capable of winning games by themselves, I think they’re that good.”
Records don’t necessarily paint the whole picture, and that is the case with the Hoosiers, who have lost six of their last eight games. Of the Hoosiers’ ten losses, five have been by eight points or less. This will be the first opponent Ohio State plays twice this season.
“We’re always focused, I feel like every time we show up in the gym we’re going to take their teams best shot, it’s just by virtue of who we are and kind of were we finished last year and what the expectations are for our team,” McGuff said “I know [Indiana] is going to play really well, they’re going to play hard, they’re going to be extremely prepared.”
Ohio State forward and Indiana native Stephanie Mavunga said she will not let the emotions of returning to her home state affect her play.
“The goals never change, you still want to get the win, you still wanna play hard, play smart, play together and just have fun out there,” Mavunga said.
A Buckeye win against the Hoosiers will give them a 5-0 record for the ninth time in school history.
