It didn't take long for No. 9 Ohio State to bounce back from Sunday's 95-90 overtime loss to No. 9 Louisville as the Buckeyes blasted Idaho, 99-56 for the program's 1,000th all-time win.
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #9 Ohio State | 23 | 26 | 30 | 20 | 99 |
| Idaho | 11 | 13 | 18 | 14 | 56 |
Linnae Harper has the most impressive performance of the day, leading the team in both scoring and rebounding for much of the game. Standing at just 5-8, Harper pulled down a game-high 18 rebounds to go with her 18 for a double-double.
"Honestly, I'm just trying to be whatever the team needs me to be," Harper said after the game. "I'm very versatile, but I think it requires a very mentally disciplined focus for me to switch back and forth [between forward and guard], but so far it's gone well for our team and I just contribute the best way that I can."
Stephanie Mavunga also had a double-double on the night, scoring 17 points and pulling down 14 rebounds. Kelsey Mitchell, Sierra Calhoun and Jensen Caretti were also in double figures scoring as the Buckeyes had five players with 10 or more points.
"She's incredibly important," head coach Kevin McGuff said of Mavunga's presence. "Tonight she had 17 and 14 in 22 minutes – really efficient. Plus, she was 6-of-8 from the floor. She did a great job and we certainly need her to play that way for us to be successful."
| OHIO STATE | STAT | IDAHO |
|---|---|---|
| 99 | POINTS | 56 |
| 37-85 | FGM-FGA (PCT.) | 22-60 |
| 13-34 (38%) | 3PM-3PA (PCT.) | 6-32 (19%) |
| 12-21 (57%) | FTM-FTA (PCT.) | 6-12 (50%) |
| 8 | TURNOVERS | 17 |
| 59 | TOTAL REBOUNDS | 35 |
| 22 | OFFENSIVE REBOUNDS | 3 |
| 37 | DEFENSIVE REBOUNDS | 31 |
| 27 | BENCH POINTS | 10 |
| 1 | BLOCKS | 1 |
| 6 | STEALS | 2 |
| 16 | ASSISTS | 9 |
For Caretti, it was the first double-digit scoring performance in her Buckeye career, as she finished with 14 points, shooting 5-for-9 from the field.
"I felt like I had a lot more confidence than I've had in the past," Caretti said. "I felt more comfortable."
Caretti played sparingly as a freshman last season and figures to come off the bench once again. but she's looked much more comfortable on the court so far this season. If she proves she can contribute in meaningful ways this season, she could add much-needed depth to this Buckeye team.
The game itself went about as expected. Ohio State was the superior team and it showed from start to finish. The Buckeyes dominated Idaho inside, out-rebounding the Vandals 59-35 and held a 19-0 advantage in second-chance scoring.
"I just think it shows how tough we are," Harper said of the team's rebounding advantage. "Coach McGuff puts a lot of emphasis in practice on defending and rebounding. We do a lot of rebounding drills and it just shows how tough we are and how focused we can be."
The Buckeyes return to action on Friday when they host Quinnipiac at 7 p.m. in Value City Arena, then are in action again on Sunday when they host Washington – head coach Kevin McGuff's former team – at 11 a.m.
