Ohio State then-freshman forward Dorka Juhasz (14) looks to make a pass in the first half of the game against Rutgers on March 3. Ohio State lost 66-56. Credit: Casey Cascaldo | Managing Editor for Multimedia
Ohio State women’s basketball secured a key victory for its NCAA Tournament hopes in its regular-season finale Saturday.
Ohio State (18-11, 11-7 Big Ten) snapped a two-game losing streak, beating Purdue (17-13, 8-10) 77-56 on the road.
The victory all but locked up Ohio State’s spot in the NCAA Tournament and secured either the No. 5 or No. 6 seed in the Big Ten Tournament. The Buckeyes can land the No. 5 seed if Rutgers loses to Iowa Sunday.
Freshman guard Kierstan Bell did not lose a step after missing two games, finishing with 11 points and a team-high tying four assists against Purdue.
Ohio State controlled the paint against the Boilermakers to the tune of a 52-22 scoring advantage in the lane.
Sophomore forward Dorka Juhasz added her fourth-straight double-double, finishing with 16 points and 13 rebounds. She finished the regular season with eight double-doubles.
Sophomore forward Aaliyah Patty put together one of her best performances of the season, finishing with 16 points on a scorching 7-of-10 from the field.
Both Juhasz and Patty locked in on the defensive end, as they each added three blocks and two steals.
The Boilermakers could not get anything going offensively, shooting just 29 percent from the field. Their struggles were also seen from deep, as they shot an abysmal 5-of-24 from beyond the arc.
Junior guard Karissa McLaughlin, senior guard Dominique Oden and senior forward Ae’Rianna Harris –– Purdue’s three leading scorers on the season –– provided 42 of its 56 points on the day.
McLaughlin had a team-high 18 points on a sluggish 6-of-18 shooting.
Ohio State returns to action Thursday when it opens up Big Ten Tournament play. Its opponent and gametime is still to be determined.
