SPOKANE, Wash. – The sixth-seeded Ohio State women’s basketball team (25-7, 14-4 Big Ten) was edged out by second-seeded Texas (29-6, 13-5 Big 12) on Friday night in the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA Tournament by a 66-63 margin.
Taylor Mikesell led all scorers with 19 points, including making 3-of-4 from behind the arc. Jacy Sheldon scored 17 points and added a game-high four assists. Braxtin Miller was the third Buckeye in double figures, scoring 12 points.
How it Happened
Texas scored on the opening possession and jumped to an early 4-0 lead before Jacy Sheldon got Ohio State on the board with a driving layup. Rebeka Mikulášiková completed a three-point play as the Buckeyes trailed 6-5 with 7:42 to play in the opening quarter. Texas had the 12-9 lead at the media timeout. A three-point play from Sheldon with 2:26 remaining gave Ohio State its first lead of the game at 14-12. The Buckeyes extended their run to 11-0 to lead 18-12 with 1:27 remaining and led 20-16 after 10 minutes of play.
The Longhorns scored the first seven points of the second quarter to take a 23-20 lead. Back-to-back baskets from Braxtin Miller and Taylor Mikesell gave the lead back to Ohio State. Texas responded with a jumper for the 25-24 lead with just under seven minutes remaining before the Buckeyes could string together six-unanswered points to lead 30-25 at the media timeout. The Longhorns scored the final seven points of the half to take a 32-30 lead into the locker room.
Rikki Harris tied the game with a pair from the line to open the second half and Braxtin Miller gave Ohio State the lead back with 8:31 remaining. The teams traded points and the lead before Texas went on a 6-0 run to force an OSU timeout as the Buckeyes trailed 41-36 with 5:40 to play in the quarter. Miller ended the Longhorns’ 9-0 run with a jumper through contact. Another jumper by Miller and a triple from Mikesell trimmed the Texas lead to 44-43 with just under four minutes remaining. Texas took a 50-45 lead into the final quarter.
The Longhorns opened scoring in the final quarter, but Mikesell scored the first five points of the frame for the Buckeyes as OSU trailed 54-50 with 8:30 to play. Back-to-back Texas baskets forced an Ohio State timeout with 6:34 remaining and behind 58-50. The Longhorns grabbed their first double-digit lead at 60-50. A three-point play and triple from Sheldon within 20 seconds forced a Texas timeout as the Buckeyes trimmed the deficit to 60-56 with 4:20 remaining. Miller got Ohio State within two points, 60-58, with 3:28 to play. Mikesell put the Buckeyes within one, 62-61, with less than two minutes to play with another triple. Ohio State called timeout with 1:07 to play after a made Texas basket put the Longhorns up 64-61. A jumper from Tanaya Beacham got the Buckeyes within one again with 28 seconds remaining and Ohio State called timeout after a defensive stop. OSU could not capitalize on an offensive rebound and sent Texas to the charity stripe. The Longhorns made both as the score was capped at 66-63.
Game Notes
- Jacy Sheldon was the first Buckeye to reach double figures, doing so for the 30th time this season. Taylor Mikesell also scored at least 10 points for the 30th time this season.
- Braxtin Miller tallied her sixth double-figure game of the season.
- This is the 24th game this season that Mikesell has made at least three triples.
- Q1: Ohio State used an 11-0 run and 56 percent shooting to take a 20-16 lead after 10 minutes. Sheldon led all scorers with seven points.
- Q3: Miller led the Buckeyes offense with eight points in the quarter.
- Q4: OSU won the rebounding battle by a 10-7 margin in the quarter.
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COURTESY OSU ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS
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