Ohio State became the first team in NCAA history to open their season against the top-two teams in the nation. Unfortunately for Kevin McGuff's squad, they also became the first team in NCAA history to lose to the nation's top-two teams to start the season.
Thursday, they got a chance to bounce back. Playing a far more manageable opponent in Belmont, the Buckeyes had no trouble, trouncing the Bruins, 84-56.
Kelsey Mitchell got back to her usual self. After finishing with a career low eight points Monday night against No. 1 Connecticut, the reigning NCAA scoring-leader bounced back by scoring a game-high 25 points.
Ameryst Alston and Cait Craft also had good nights. Alston finished just shy of Mitchell's total, scoring 22 points, while Craft scored 15 and was an assist shy of a double-double.
Ohio State freshman captain Kianna Holland did not play after feeling soreness in her surgically-repaired knee in Wednesday's practice. Holland is coming off an ACL injury that sidelined her for the entire 2014 season. According to an OSU spokesman, her scratch from the lineup was purely precautionary.
The Buckeyes host Wagner Sunday as part of their three-game home stand before traveling to face No. 3 Notre Dame Dec. 2 – Ohio State's third match-up against last season's Final Four teams.
