Junior guard Chance Gray (21) takes control of the ball during the Buckeyes game against Charlotte. The Buckeyes dominated the 49ers, securing a 94-53 win on Tuesday at the Schottenstein Center. Credit: Matthew Wu | Lantern Photographer
Another game played, another record broken. Ohio State guard Chance Gray’s nine three-pointers tied the all-time school record for three-pointers made in a game.
She matched Kelsey Mitchell’s nine three-pointers from Jan. 15, 2015 against Minnesota.
The No. 12 Buckeyes (2-0) handled the Charlotte 49ers (1-2) 94-53 to earn their second victory of the year.
Ohio State was out-rebounded by the 49ers, 36-34, but the Buckeye defense came up big, forcing 28 turnovers.
Gray also led the Buckeyes in scoring tonight with 31, a new career high for the transfer from Oregon.
“Yeah, I knew I had to be close,” Gray said. “I kept letting it fly.”
Charlotte led 4-2 for just 10 seconds early in the first thanks to a pair of layups from forward Keanna Rembert and center Jayla Kelly.
The Buckeyes went on to make four of their next four three-pointers to get out to a large first quarter lead. They rode the offensive high into the first quarter-break with a lead of 25-6.
After 10 missed shots in a row, Charlotte’s guard Alexis Andrews finally got a layup to fall while being fouled, breaking the cold streak for the 49ers.
The Buckeye defense showed up big in the second quarter, forcing five turnovers and allowing zero field goals over a 3:32 span.
The 49er three-ball took a while to get going. After missing their first five attempts beyond the arc, they finally got one to fall from DeeDee Shephard with just under two minutes remaining in the second half.
The Buckeyes went on a 2:28 scoring drought to end the first half but still held a 43-17 lead, nonetheless.
Early in the third quarter, a scary sight for the Buckeyes as guard Jaloni Cambridge was knocked to the ground hard and needed assistance to get up and walk off the court. She did come back to the sideline but would not return for the remainder of the game.
The 49ers would go on a 14-4 run directly after the Cambridge injury.
McMahon ended that run with a behind-the-back assist to Taylor Thierry, followed by a steal and a made free throw of her own.
“I kind of wanted to see how we would react in the moment,” head coach Kevin McGuff said. “[McMahon], [Gray] and [Green] got the team together and made sure we executed and played the right way down the stretch.”
The veterans on Ohio State made sure Cambridge’s injury didn’t allow the 49ers to climb their way back into the game.
The Buckeyes ended the third quarter strong with two more Gray three-pointers, a forced 10-second violation and then an Eboni Walker layup. Ohio State held a 69-43 lead headed into the final frame.
Charlotte’s best quarter came in the third, where they scored 26 points with the help of Kay Kay Green and Andrews, who each accounted for seven points.
The fourth quarter got started with yet another Gray three-pointer.
McGuff was asked what he saw from his leading scorer tonight.
“She’s a really terrific scorer from the perimeter and obviously really shot at will tonight,” McGuff said.
She would go on to make the record-tying three with just under 4:30 left in the fourth quarter before going to the bench for good.
The next game for the Buckeyes will be their first away game of the season as they travel to face the Belmont Bruins. Tipoff is set for 3 p.m. on Nov. 17 in Nashville, Tennessee.
