No. 3 Ohio State avoids upset scare, downs Illinois 87-81

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Taylor Mikesell scored a game-high 31 factors as No. 3 Ohio State erased a halftime deficit and prevented an upset with an 87-81 over Illinois Sunday.

Trailing by as many as 17 factors within the second half, a 13-0 run within the third quarter helped the Buckeyes (17-0, 6-0 Massive Ten) tie the sport at 58 with 2:16 to go within the interval.

Coming into the fourth quarter tied at 65, Rikki Harris made a 3-pointer and Ohio State didn’t path once more.

The Buckeyes shot 42.9% within the fourth quarter whereas the Preventing Illini (14-3, 4-2) went 1 of seven from past the arc in that span.

Mikesell shot 50% from the sector and Cotie McMahon added 22 factors for Ohio State. Taylor Thierry had 12 factors and swiped 4 steals.

Each groups matched each other within the first quarter. Illinois started 10 of 21 from the sector and Genesis Bryant scored 10 factors whereas the Buckeyes went 8 of 8 on the free throw line however shot 31.3%.

Knotted at 22 factors after the opening body, the Preventing Illini raced forward on a 10-2 run and outscored Ohio State 25-15 within the second quarter. Illinois led 47-37 at halftime.

Kendall Bostic notched her sixth double-double of the season behind 27 factors and 15 rebounds. Bryant completed with 20 factors, Makira Prepare dinner had 12 and Brynn Shoup-Hill tallied 10 for Illinois.

BIG PICTURE

Illinois: The seven-game profitable streak got here to an finish for the Preventing Illini, who’re second within the Massive Ten standings.

Ohio State: The Buckeyes proceed their program-best begin to the season regardless of the absences of guards Madison Greene and Jacy Sheldon, who’re coping with accidents.

UP NEXT

Illinois: At Minnesota Sunday.

Ohio State: At Nebraska Saturday.

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AP ladies’s faculty basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll