Ohio State freshman guard Jaloni Cambridge dribbles the ball up the court during the season opener against Cleveland State. Cambridge scored a team-leading 31 points in her first collegiate game. Credit: Faith Schneider | Lantern Photographer
Cleveland State led for the first 56 seconds of Tuesday’s game.
But the Buckeyes played ahead from then on, led by freshman Jaloni Cambridge
Cambridge scored 31 for No. 14 Ohio State (1-0) in her collegiate debut while notching six assists and six rebounds as the Buckeyes defeated the Vikings (0-1) 104-69 in the season opener.
Cambridge was unphased by the pressure in her first game.
“I didn’t really have any nerves,” Jaloni Cambridge said. “I was just excited to be here and just blessed.”
The Vikings went ahead early after a missed shot by Ohio State’s Ajae Petty, followed by a successful 3-point attempt from Cleveland State guard Sara Guerreiro.
Ohio State responded with nine unanswered points of its own and took a six-point lead just over two minutes into the game.
Guerreiro knocked down another three to cut the Buckeye lead to just three points shortly after that.
Seconds later, Cambridge responded with her sixth point, extending the Buckeyes’ lead to five.
Ohio State forward Cotie McMahon got on the board with a fastbreak 3-pointer, before an and-one gave the Buckeyes a 20-6 lead, capping off an 11-0 run.
Jaloni Cambridge answered with a jumper shortly thereafter. Jaloni Cambridge went four-for-four in the first quarter and ended the frame with eight points and four steals.
Forward Jordan Reisma for Cleveland State opened the scoring in the second quarter with a made layup to make it 24-11 in favor of the Buckeyes.
In the second quarter, Cambridge connected on back-to-back 3-pointers, pushing the Ohio State lead to 19.
The Buckeyes went into the half with a 42-24 lead.
Cambridge continued her tear, drawing another and-one to give her squad a 23-point lead.
The fourth quarter started with a Chance Gray corner three, the first points for the guard in a Buckeye uniform.
With under four minutes to go, Ohio State stretched its lead to 30 after forward Eboni Walker put through a layup.
Ohio State scored the next seven points, featuring contributions from center Elsa Lemmila, guards Kennedy Cambridge and Ava Watson, as well as Walker again giving their squad a 104-67 lead.
Ohio State utilized 10 different players in the contest, all of which scored at least a point.
Head coach Kevin McGuff believes their depth will give them an advantage moving forward.
“I think we can be a really deep team,” McGuff said.
Ohio State has a week of rest before its next matchup against the Charlotte 49ers at Value City Arena 6 p.m. Tuesday. Big Ten+ will broadcast the game.
