Ohio State women’s basketball started its season with a top-five win.
The 14th-ranked Buckeyes began their 2022-23 campaign with a bang as they defeated fifth-ranked Tennessee, 87-75, in their season opener at the Schottenstein Center on Tuesday.
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | FINAL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #14 OHIO STATE | 16 | 17 | 30 | 24 | 87 |
| #5 TENNESSEE | 22 | 19 | 13 | 21 | 75 |
Tennessee led by as many as 12 points in the first half and took a 41-33 lead into halftime, but the Buckeyes responded back with a 30-13 third quarter to take a 63-54 lead into the fourth quarter. From the 2:24 mark of the third quarter to the 8:46 mark of the fourth quarter, Ohio State went on an 18-0 run to turn a 54-51 deficit into a 69-54 lead, forcing six Tennessee turnovers in that span.
The Buckeyes never relinquished the lead from that point forward, outscoring Tennessee 54-34 in the second half to secure a signature season-opening win over one of the sport’s perennial powerhouses.
| OHIO STATE | STAT | TENNESSEE |
|---|---|---|
| 87 | POINTS | 75 |
| 31-61 (50.8%) | FGM-FGA (PCT.) | 28-58 (48.3%) |
| 7-23 (30.4%) | 3PM-3PA (PCT.) | 4-11 (36.4%) |
| 18-31 (58.1%) | FTM-FTA (PCT.) | 15-24 (62.5%) |
| 15 | TURNOVERS | 29 |
| 30 | TOTAL REBOUNDS | 40 |
| 7 | OFFENSIVE REBOUNDS | 12 |
| 23 | DEFENSIVE REBOUNDS | 28 |
| 11 | BENCH POINTS | 13 |
| 3 | BLOCKS | 1 |
| 16 | STEALS | 4 |
| 19 | ASSISTS | 10 |
Ohio State’s full-court press defense caused problems for the Volunteers throughout the game as Tennessee turned it over a whopping 29 times, and the Buckeyes turned those turnovers into 37 points.
All five Buckeye starters scored in double figures. Taylor Mikesell led Ohio State with 25 points while Rebeka Mikulasikova added 17 points, Jacy Sheldon scored 14 and Cotie McMahon and Taylor Thierry each scored 10. Mikulasikova led the Buckeyes with nine rebounds while Sheldon led Ohio State with seven assists and a career-high eight steals.
Ohio State entered the season with high expectations after earning a share of the regular-season Big Ten championship last season, and those expectations will only increase now that the Buckeyes already have a marquee non-conference win under their belts. They’ll look to keep the good vibes going in their second game of the season Sunday, when they hit the road to play Boston College in a 4 p.m. game that will be televised by ACC Network.
