Kelsey Mitchell added to her list of impressive accomplishments in leading Ohio State to a Sweet 16 appearance today. Mitchell scored 45 points in the 88-81 win over West Virginia, etching her name in the national record books.
Kelsey Mitchell's 45 points are the most scored in an #ncaaW first or second round and fourth in any round. pic.twitter.com/mscxCSQXWl
— NCAA Women's BKB (@ncaawbb) March 20, 2016
Just three shy of her career high of 48 points, Mitchell now owns the top four single-game scoring performances in Ohio State history.
The Buckeyes needed nearly every one of her points today. The 5-foot-8 sophomore from Cincinnati wasn't always efficient — hitting just 11/31 from the floor and 5/12 from the arc — but with Ameryst Alston not 100% in her return from injury, the Buckeye offense ran through her.
By driving into traffic repeatedly, Mitchell got to the free throw line 22 times, where she hit 18 of her freebies. In so doing, she broke Nikita Lowry's 29-year-old school record for free throws made in a game and Katie Smith's 23-year-old OSU mark for free throw attempts in a contest.
Scoring 45 points isn't just hard for a player. Sometimes it's difficult to score that many as an entire team.
.@OhioState_wbb Kelsey Mitchell's 45 points today outscored 4 @ncaawbb tourney teams and Pitt's mens team in their 1st rd loss to Wisconsin.
— Kevin Negandhi (@KNegandhiESPN) March 20, 2016
Mitchell and the Buckeyes will take on the winner of tonight's Tennessee-Arizona State game in the Sweet 16. That game will be on ESPN at 9 p.m. ET.
