Ohio State’s then-junior guard Jensen Caretti (33) goes up for the shot in the game against Penn State on Feb 6. Ohio State won 78-73. Credit: Cori Wade | Assistant Photo Editor
It was quite literally a “lights out” game for Ohio State women’s basketball in its season debut, as it defeated Valparaiso 89-38, despite the lights briefly going out in the arena mid-third quarter.
Hosted by Wittenberg University, the Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame season-opener for Ohio State (1-0) showcased its new team against Valparaiso (0-1).
Sophomore forward Dorka Juhász scored a team-high 16 points and grabbed seven rebounds. Following behind Juhász was sophomore guard Janai Crooms and freshman guard Jacy Sheldon, who both had 12 points.
Junior guard Addison Stoller led Valparaiso with 11 points.
Valparaiso played Ohio State close early, trailing just 13-11 with less than a minute to play in the first quarter, but the Buckeyes used an extended 16-4 run to take control of the game in the second.
That wasn’t Ohio State’s best run of the game, however — a 23-0 Ohio State run in the third quarter took the lead from comfortable at 42-24 to overwhelming at 65-24.
The Buckeyes continued their fast-paced style to score 12 points on fast breaks. Ohio State had 11 steals and four blocks on the day and out-rebounded the Crusaders 38-22.
Junior transfer guard Braxtin Miller, who was granted a waiver by the NCAA to play for Ohio State Friday, got the start for the Buckeyes, and shot 2-for-5 in 20 minutes of action.
Freshman forward Rebeka Mikilášiková made her Buckeye debut and knocked down 4-of-6 shots to add eight points to the Ohio State cause.
Five-star recruit and freshman guard Kierstan Bell was the fourth Buckeye to score in double figures, scoring 10 points as she knocked down two 3-pointers in the game.
Ohio State will continue on the road playing again on Wednesday Nov. 13 at Cincinnati with a 7 p.m. tip-off.
