A day after downing No. 11 Syracuse 77-72 in the Gulf Coast Showcase semifinals, the Ohio State women's hoops team couldn't get it done in the title game, falling to No. 5 Baylor 85-68.
| Teams | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio State | 15 | 10 | 21 | 22 | 68 |
| Baylor | 19 | 19 | 24 | 23 | 85 |
The Buckeyes kept it close for much of the first half, until Baylor closed the second quarter on a 8-2 run when Ohio State went cold from the field. The Buckeyes shot under 30 percent from the field in the half and did not have a single field goal in the last 5:42 of the second quarter.
Ohio State shot better in the second half, but Baylor still gradually extended its lead thanks to a slower tempo that favored its half-court style of play as opposed to the Buckeyes' trademark uptempo style of play.
Kelsey Mitchell in particular had a rough shooting night, particularly in the first half. The Buckeye star scored just four points in the half, shooting 2-for-12 from the field and 0-for-4 from behind the arc. She found her shot in the second half, finishing the game with a team-high 17 points, but it wasn't enough.
The difference in the game was size. Ohio State head coach Kevin McGuff called Baylor "the biggest team in college basketball," and the Bears bullied the Buckeyes in the post. Baylor held an absurd 52-29 rebounding advantage and outscored Ohio State by 22 points in the paint.
Baylor forward Beatrice Mompremier was particularly a problem for the Buckeyes. The 6-4 sophomore finished the game with 13 points and 14 rebounds, which was nearly half of was Ohio State managed as a team.
The Buckeyes return to action Thursday as they host No. 21 Miami Thursday evening at 7 p.m. in Value City Arena.
