Thanks to a team scoring barrage, Ohio State downed Virginia 93-73 in one of the team's most complete performances of the year.
Led by Ameryst Alston's 24 points and Kelsey Mitchell's 23, the Buckeyes had five scorers in double-digits and shot a season-best 56% from the field as a team.
The Buckeyes dominated in the paint as well. Alexa Hart led the way down low, registering a double-double with 19 points and a team-best 12 rebounds. Shayla Cooper was not far behind with 13 points and nine rebounds. As a team, Ohio State out-rebounded the Cavaliers 42-36.
Defensively, the Buckeyes had trouble with two Virginia players in particular – Mikayla Venson and Faith Randolph. The Cavalier duo combined for 50 of the Cavalier's points, even outscoring Ohio State's high-powered Alston/Mitchell tandem.
The win puts an end to a treacherous non-conference schedule which included four top-10 teams in 10 games. The Buckeyes head into conference play with a 7-3 record with their only losses coming to the nation's top three teams – Connecticut, South Carolina and Notre Dame.
Next up for the team is No. 24 Michigan State in the team's conference opener New Year's Eve.
