The Ohio State women’s basketball team played against Ohio University at the Convocation Center Wednesday. The Buckeyes defeated the Wildcats 106-42, earning their first 60+ point win since 2009. Credit: Evan Hartmann | Lantern Reporter
Utter dominance.
With a 64-point victory, Ohio State earned its third-largest win in the program’s history.
True freshman center Elsa Lemmilä notched a career-high 21 points as No. 12 Ohio State (4-0) dismantled the Ohio Bobcats (1-3) 106-42 at the Convocation Center Wednesday night.
Ohio shot a mere 25.5% from the field,helping the Buckeyes earn 24th all-time victory over the in-state opponent.
“The past four games have been my first games in a year and a half since my injury,” Lemmilä said. “This is exactly the kind of game that I need to build up my confidence again, especially on offense.”
A 9-0 run by the Buckeyes forced an early timeout by Ohio.
The Bobcats wouldn’t get on the board until just over halfway through the first quarter as a 3-pointer from guard Bailey Tabeling ended the Buckeyes’ 17-0 run.
Another Ohio three, this time from forward Emma Barnett, along with a pair of made free throws by guard Monica Williams, cut the deficit to 14 points, as Ohio State went scoreless for nearly three minutes.
The Bobcats finished the first period strong with three free throws from guard Aliah McWhorter, cutting the Buckeyes lead to 27-12 after 10 minutes.
Ohio State guard Jaloni Cambridge opened the second quarter with a corner three, extending the Buckeye lead to 18.
A 13-0 Ohio State run came to an end 5:15 remaining in the second quarter when Bobcat forward Danni Scully blew by Buckeye guard Chance Gray for a wide-open layup.
After forcing 26 turnovers in the first half, the Buckeyes led by 40 heading into the break. Cambridge was the high-scorer with 19 points, which tied the Bobcats’ team total for the first half.
Ohio State stayed hot to start the third quarter, with two 3-pointers from Gray and a layup by forward Taylor Thierry.
Another Gray 3-pointer just 48 seconds into the third gave the Buckeyes their 67th point, tying their score from their previous outing against Belmont on Sunday.
“Yeah, I think this helps just build our confidence,” Thierry said.
The Buckeyes’ lead was extended to 52 after layups from both Gray and Lemmilä before the fourth quarter..
After 30 minutes of play, Ohio State led 90-38.
The Bobcats came out of the break with a layup by guard Gigi Bower, followed by two blocked shots on the defensive end.
Guard Ava Watson scored the game’s next eight points and Lemmilä would put the Buckeyes up over the century mark with 2:25 with an and-one after a Bobcat foul.
The Bobcats shot a mere 25.5% from the field, helping the Buckeyes earn a 106-42 victory and their 24th all-time victory over the in-state opponent.
Ohio State’s next matchup is back in Columbus against another in-state foe in the Bowling Green Falcons. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m. on Sunday.
This story was updated Dec. 9 at 9:15 a.m. to correct the margin of victory and the spelling of an athlete’s last name.
