Ohio State freshman forward Dorka Juhasz (14) looks to make a pass in the first half of the game against Rutgers March 3. Ohio State lost 66-56. Credit: Casey Cascaldo | Managing Editor for Multimedia
The Ohio State women’s basketball team (4-3) split a pair of games in the South Point Thanksgiving Shootout Friday and Saturday in Las Vegas.
Game 1
The Buckeyes lost to South Dakota (7-1) 68-53, never leading after the second quarter.
Ohio State mounted several attempts to climb back into the contest, slicing the lead back to five at one point in the third quarter, but could not overcome its 36-28 halftime deficit.
Ohio State freshman forward Rebeka Mikilášiková had a season- and team-high 19 points along with four rebounds and a steal.
Freshmen guards Jacy Sheldon and Kierstan Bell added 10 and 12 points, respectively.
South Dakota was led by senior guard Ciara Duffy, who had 22 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists. Junior guards Monica Arens and Chloe Lamb also finished in double figures.
The Coyotes used effective 3-point shooting to grow their advantage, shooting 39 percent behind the arc to the Buckeyes’ 28.
The Buckeyes led 16-12 in the first quarter, but immediately surrendered a 10-0 run to catalyze the South Dakota victory.
Game 2
Ohio State defeated Northern Iowa (5-2) 64-46 in its second game of the weekend.
The Buckeyes led the entire way, jumping out to a 22-9 lead after the first quarter.
Ohio State sophomore forward Dorka Juhász led the team with 14 points, but Sheldon and freshman guard Madison Greene weren’t far behind with 13 and 12, respectively. Greene recorded 10 rebounds and four steals in addition to her scoring output.
The Buckeyes’ defense proved decisive, recording eight blocks and 12 steals compared to the Panthers’ no-block, seven-steal performance.
Northern Iowa sophomore guard Kam Finley recorded a game-high 16 points and was the only Panther with double-digit scoring. The Panthers shot just 23 percent from the field.
The Panthers kept pace with the Buckeyes in the second half, both teams scoring 30, but could never cut Ohio State’s lead below nine.
The Buckeyes continue their season against No. 8 Louisville in Columbus at 8 p.m. Thursday.
