For the second-straight year, Ohio State's season ends in the Sweet 16 as the Buckeyes fell 99-76 to top-seeded Notre Dame.
| TEams | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio State | 25 | 17 | 23 | 11 | 76 |
| Notre Dame | 24 | 26 | 30 | 19 | 99 |
The lopsided loss came despite what was actually a well-played game from Ohio State. The Buckeyes shot over 50 percent from the field and 40 percent from behind the arc most of the game while turning the ball over just one more time than the Irish. They just couldn't overcome Notre Dame's hot night, as it put up 99 points, a school record in NCAA Tournament play.
The Irish were without their top scorer and rebounder on Friday night after Brianna Turner tore her ACL against Purdue last weekend. It appeared to be a huge loss for the Irish, but they really didn't seem to miss her. Six different players scored double figures, led by Arike Ogunbowale, who had a career-high 32 points.
| OHIO STATE | STAT | Notre Dame |
|---|---|---|
| 76 | POINTS | 99 |
| 30-71 (42%) | FGM-FGA (PCT.) | 34-65 (52%) |
| 9-24 (38%) | 3PM-3PA (PCT.) | 12-24 (50%) |
| 7-10 (70%) | FTM-FTA (PCT.) | 19-20 (95%) |
| 12 | TURNOVERS | 11 |
| 30 | TOTAL REBOUNDS | 42 |
| 10 | OFFENSIVE REBOUNDS | 10 |
| 32 | DEFENSIVE REBOUNDS | 20 |
| 34 | BENCH POINTS | 13 |
| 2 | BLOCKS | 1 |
| 4 | STEALS | 4 |
| 23 | ASSISTS | 23 |
Without Turner, Notre Dame put an emphasis on three-point shooting, and to say "it worked" would be an understatement. The Irish average just six three-pointers on the season, but they hit a season-high 12 on Friday night, including seven-straight in the first half.
Kelsey Mitchell opened the game 5-for-5 with 12 points in the first quarter, but was limited in the second half. She was just 1-for-8 after the intermission.
Ohio State just couldn't keep up, couldn't get to the free-throw line to make up for it and the game gradually got out of reach.
One of the few bright spots was the play of lone-senior Shayla Cooper. Playing in what ended up being her last game as a Buckeye, Cooper did everything she could, pulling down a game-high 13 rebounds (nine of which came in the first five minutes), while scoring nine points and dishing out four assists. She is likely headed to the WNBA.
The first quarter was nothing but offense as the teams seemed to trade three-pointers every possession. Both teams shot over 50 percent from beyond the arc in the first quarter and Ohio State led 25-24 entering the second.
It was Notre Dame, however, that stayed hot. The Irish hit 13-straight field goals across the first two quarters including seven-straight threes — one more than the team even averages in a game. The Buckeyes didn't roll over, though. Ohio State held Notre Dame scoreless during final two minutes of the half and found shots of their own to cut the lead to single digits before halftime. The Irish led 50-42 after two quarters.
The Buckeyes cut the Notre Dame lead to just four at the start of the third quarter, but the Irish responded in a big way, gradually stretching the lead to 15 points to take an 80-65 lead into the fourth quarter.
Notre Dame coasted in the fourth quarter, gradually extending its lead to earn a 99-76 win and punch its ticket to the Elite Eight, where it awaits the winner of tonight's game between Stanford and Texas.
The loss ends Ohio State's season in the Sweet 16 for the second straight season. The Buckeyes finish with a 28-7 record and won the regular season Big Ten title.
