2023 Ohio State University
On Saturday the No. 3 Ohio State Women's Basketball team played in what may have been their biggest game of the 21st Century as they took on the biggest dynasty in women's hoops in the No. 2 UConn Huskies who were hunting for their seventeenth straight Elite Eight appearance. But the Buckeyes have become a whole new team since the return of Jacy Sheldon and once again the Buckeyes proved that they were one of the best teams in the nation on Saturday night.
Going into the game the Lady Buckeyes were ten-point-underdogs to the Huskies and were given very little chance to make it to the Elite Eight for what would be the fourth time in program history. But against the odds the Buckeyes went shot for shot with the Huskies in the first quarter as they went to the break down by just two points. The second quarter is when they hit their stride as they were led by great defense they held UConn to just nine points and scored 21 of their own to take a double-digit lead into the halftime break.
The Buckeyes could only hold off the Huskies for so long as once again the two teams went shot for shot in the third quarter. But at the end of the eight minute period the Buckeyes still maintained their ten point lead after both teams put up 18 in the third. With one quarter to go the Buckeyes officially put the nation on notice that the heavily favored Huskies were on upset alert. With the lead and the nations eyes looking at them they continued the fight and despite a valiant effort from the UConn Huskies the Buckeyes prevailed and outscored their opponent 19-17 in the final quarter to advance to their first Elite Eight game since 1993, which was before any player on either roster was born.
Final Score: Ohio State Wins 73-61
Ohio State will play one of the four one-seeded teams in Virginia on Monday, March 27th in the Elite Eight at a time that is still yet to be announced.
Player of the Game: Cotie McMahon
Once again here in the postseason it was the Freshman getting things done for the Buckeyes as she finished with 23 points and shot just under 50% from the field. If the Big Ten Freshman of the Year can keep up this pace the Bucks may very well be on their way to the record books within the next week.
Stats:
Ohio State
FG: 23-60
3PT: 5-17
FT: 22-30
REB: 34
AST: 13
STL: 13
BLK: 0
TO: 14
PF: 15
Leading Scorers: Cotie McMahon (23), Jacy Sheldon (17), Taylor Thierry (11)
UConn
FG: 24-53
3PT: 6-23
FT: 7-15
REB: 38
AST: 15
STL: 11
BLK: 4
TO: 25
PF: 20
Leading Scorers: Lou Lopez Senechal (25), Azzi Fudd (14), Dorka Juhasz (13)