Beating Michigan has become a habit across all sports at Ohio State. Saturday, it was the No. 13 women's hoops team's turn and they took care of business, downing their rivals to the north 96-87 to remain undefeated in the Big Ten.
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio State | 20 | 25 | 24 | 27 | 96 |
| Michigan | 21 | 22 | 16 | 28 | 87 |
Once again, Kelsey Mitchell led the way for the Buckeyes. The Ohio State star played all 40 minutes and led the team with 26 points. She also pulled down five rebounds.
Mitchell was not the top offensive player of the game, however, as Michigan guard Katelynn Flaherty gave the Buckeyes fits. The junior finished with a game-high 38 points, shooting 15-for-24 from the field and 8-for-14 from behind the arc.
The difference for the Buckeyes was size. While Michigan outshot Ohio State from behind the arc, the Buckeyes dominated the paint, outscoring the Wolverines 52-32 down low and holding a 47-34 advantage on the boards. Forwards Stephanie Mavunga, Tori McCoy and Shayla Cooper led the way in the post, each reaching double figures and combining for 23 rebounds.
It took Ohio State some time to take control of the game. Michigan held the lead for nearly the entire first quarter and extended its lead at the beginning of the second. The Buckeyes responded with a 16-3 run to take the lead and never looked back.
Ohio State took a 45-42 lead into the half, and extended that lead throughout the second thanks to its depth and size advantage – both of which were achilles heals for the Buckeyes in previous season. Ohio State didn't trail in the second half, and beat Michigan 96-87.
With the win, Ohio State remains undefeated in the Big Ten and has now won nine of its last 10 games. The Buckeyes are next in action Tuesday when they travel to face Michigan State.
