Penn State gave Ohio State all they could handle, but the Buckeyes downed the Nittany Lions 77-63 behind a career night from Ameryst Alston.
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio State | 14 | 23 | 18 | 22 | 77 |
| Penn State | 15 | 15 | 22 | 11 | 63 |
The game was much closer than the final score would indicate. Penn State seemed to control the game much of the second half, dictating tempo while forcing turnovers and sloppy play from the Buckeyes. The Scarlet and Gray shot a paltry 41 percent from the field, and wasn't able to pull away until late in the fourth quarter.
Ohio State was playing its third game in six days, and fatigue certainly appeared to be an issue. At times, the Buckeye backcourt appeared to be gassed, playing heavy minutes in an incredibly uptempo offense. With the transfer of Kaylan Pugh and the injury to Kianna Holland, Ohio State's backcourt is limited to four key contributors who play monster minutes.
Despite the apparent exhaustion, there were bright spots for the Buckeyes. One in particular was Ameryst Alston's 3-point shooting. While Kelsey Mitchell was relatively quiet, finishing with 17 points with just three makes from behind the arc, Alston hit one big shot after another. The senior nailed a career-high eight 3-pointers and led all scorers with 26 points.
Alexa Hart turned in another dominating performance. The sophomore was quiet offensively, scoring just 12 points, but her presence was certainly felt on the boards. She swatted four shots and pulled down a game-high 15 rebounds en route to her seventh double-double of the season.
The win is the ninth consecutive for Kevin McGuff's squad – the programs longest win streak since 2012. Ohio State currently sits alone atop the Big Ten, with a virtual two-game lead on second-place Maryland as the Buckeyes own the tie-breaker after sweeping the season series.
The Buckeyes return home this week, playing their final two home games of the season – although it is likely the team will host the opening two rounds of the NCAA Tournament. They'll host Nebraska Thursday and Illinois Sunday afternoon on Senior Day.
