Big 4th quarter lifts No. 3 Ohio State women past Minnesota

MINNEAPOLIS — Taylor Mikesell scored 22 factors and Rikki Harris added 19 as No. 3 Ohio State rallied to beat Minnesota 83-71 on Thursday night time.

Rebeka Mikulasikova contributed 15 factors on 5 3-pointers for the Buckeyes (16-0, 5-0 Huge Ten), who outscored Minnesota 28-10 within the fourth quarter.

Mallory Heyer led Minnesota (8-7, 1-3) with 15 factors and 12 rebounds, whereas Amaya Battle and Alanna Micheaux every scored 14.

The Buckeyes aren’t accustomed to enjoying from behind, having trailed on the half solely thrice of their first 15 video games. However Minnesota’s younger workforce — its beginning lineup featured three true freshmen, a redshirt freshman and a sophomore — made Ohio State work.

“They got here out and wished it greater than us within the first half,” Mikesell stated. “Being down 5 – 6, that is not one thing we’re used to. Nevertheless it’s a Huge Ten sport on the street — it isn’t going to be simple.”

Within the fourth quarter, Minnesota shot 20% and was outrebounded 13-4. Coach Lindsay Whalen discovered some positives within the loss.

“They seem to be a robust workforce, and we stood there with them for probably the most half,” Whalen stated. “I am happy with the group. I would moderately be taught from wins, however we took one on the chin just a little bit within the fourth. However we’ll regroup.”

Ohio State trailed by as many as 10 within the third quarter earlier than a jumper by Eboni Walker sparked an 8-0 run that reduce Minnesota’s result in 56-54.

Heyer restored order for Minnesota, grabbing two massive defensive boards and hitting a 3 that gave the Gophers a 61-55 lead after three quarters.

However after making simply 5 of 20 pictures within the third quarter, Ohio State caught fireplace within the fourth. The Buckeyes went 4-for-5 from the ground and 5-for-6 from the road throughout a 14-0 run over the primary three minutes of the interval.

A five-point possession was key to the game-changing run. Cotie McMahon was fouled whereas capturing, and Minnesota’s Mi’Cole Cayton was given a technical for disputing the decision.

McMahon hit certainly one of her two free throws earlier than Mikesell made each pictures from the technical. Harris then capped the possession with a jumper to provide the Buckeyes a 64-61 lead.

“That was a important play,” Ohio State coach Kevin McGuff stated. “I do not know precisely what occurred however I like the way in which we capitalized and made free throws and executed on the out-of-bounds play to get a bucket.”

Ohio State ended up making 9 of 13 pictures whereas holding Minnesota to three of 15 from the ground within the fourth quarter.

“We buckled down, we had been just a little higher defensively, and we acquired some rebounds,” stated McGuff, whose workforce leads the Huge Ten in scoring common however ranks eleventh in rebounding.

A SHOOTER SHOOTS

Mikesell, Ohio State’s main scorer at 17.8 factors per sport, was 4 of 16 from the ground within the Buckeyes’ win over Michigan on Saturday. She recovered on Thursday, going 9 for 19.

“On the finish of the day, it is acquired to go in,” she stated, “so that you simply maintain capturing.”

BIG PICTURE

Ohio State: The Buckeyes’ sixteenth straight victory provides them the very best begin in program historical past, topping the document from 2011-12.

Minnesota: Whalen’s Gophers missed an opportunity at a signature win however their younger lineup confirmed massive potential.

UP NEXT

Ohio State: Hosts Illinois on Sunday.

Minnesota: Visits Wisconsin on Sunday.