Redshirt sophomore guard Kennedy Cambridge (3) helps up her sister, freshman guard Jaloni Cambridge, during the No. 12 Buckeyes 67-63 comeback victory over the Belmont Bruins Sunday at the Curb Event Center. Credit: Ohio State Athletics
After trailing 59-50 with 5:21 left, 13 unanswered points were enough for Ohio State to avoid disaster against Belmont.
On the road for the first time this season, the No. 12 Buckeyes (3-0) went down to the wire against the Belmont Bruins (2-2) 67-63 Sunday at Curb Event Center in their lowest-scoring effort of 2024.
“We had opportunities and we didn’t take advantage of them,” head coach Kevin McGuff said. “I think that changes the game because it puts a lot of game pressure on them and we just didn’t do it.”
Guard Chance Gray picked up right where she left off, knocking down a three-pointer to jumpstart the Buckeyes’ offense.
But the Bruins were not phased, going on a 12-5 run shortly after to take a four-point lead with just under six minutes remaining in the first quarter.
Forward Cotie McMahon’s big push gave the Buckeyes a 20-16 lead heading into the first break as she finished the quarter with 10 points while shooting 4-for-7 from the field.
“We have all the pieces we need, but I’m a big part of that piece,” McMahon said.
As the second quarter started, McMahon connected on a 3-pointer to extend Buckeyes’ lead to seven.
After a nine-point swing by the Buckeyes, Belmont answered with 11 of their own to cut their deficit to just two points.
The Bruins took the lead in the second quarter after guard Kendall Holmes scored five straight points, giving Belmont a 32-31 advantage.
Ohio State got a 3-pointer from guard Ava Watson, followed by a layup from forward Ajae Petty to take a 36-32 lead into the half.
Out of the break, Belmont guard Emily La Chapell knocked down back-to-back layups to tie the game.
The Bruins scored eight straight points, four of which came from Holmes, to put them up 50-47 heading into the final 10 minutes.
With 5:21 remaining in the game, Belmont took a nine-point lead thanks to an 8-3 run for their offense, but Ohio State answered with 13 straight points to put them back up four points with just over two minutes remaining.
The game was knotted up at 63 after Holmes and La Chapell each knocked down a pair of free-throws for the Bruins.
Freshman guard Jaloni Cambridge sealed the win back in her home state of Tennessee as she hit a jumper, followed by two free throws, to give the Buckeyes a four-point lead, which they held until the final buzzer.
“The fact that everyone on my team believed in me,” said Cambridge. “I proved out there that if I need to get a bucket, I can.”
McGuff admitted the Buckeyes didn’t have a great game.
“We played a good team, and we did not play well,” McGuff said. “They did, give them credit.”
Ohio State will be back on the road as it’ll head to Ohio University on Nov. 20. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. against the Bobcats.
