It wasn't quite a double-overtime thriller against the bitter rivals to the north like the football team had today, but the women's basketball team had a huge win as well, downing No. 11 Syracuse 77-72.
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio State | 18 | 26 | 16 | 17 | 77 |
| Syracuse | 18 | 16 | 24 | 14 | 72 |
After a neck-and-neck first quarter, the Buckeyes took over in the second to enter halftime with a 10-point lead. The second half, Syracuse closed the gap a bit thanks to the play of Alexis Peterson. The senior from Columbus, Ohio lit it up against her hometown team, scoring a game-high 29 points, 19 of which came in the second half.
Ultimately, though, the Buckeyes held on and got their first win over a ranked opponent this year.
Once again, Kelsey Mitchell led the way for the Buckeyes. The junior led the team with 24 points and played all but five minutes for the scarlet and gray.
Joining her in scoring was fellow guard Sierra Calhoun. The Duke transfer had perhaps the best game of her young Ohio State career, scoring 19 points and pulling down seven rebounds.
The Buckeyes will take on No. 5 Baylor in the Gulf Coast Showcase championship game, giving them their third game against a top-15 opponent in under two weeks.
