The Ohio State University Buckeyes used a 27-4 first half run, and would overpower the University of Maine 80-57 in the first round of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament at Value City Arena in Columbus, Ohio on Friday afternoon.
#15 seed Maine had some leads early on in the first quarter, getting off to a hot start shooting. After Ohio State scored the first four points of the contest, the Black Bears responded with a pair of three-pointers by Olivia Rockwood for a 6-4 advantage. The Buckeyes then ran off seven straight for a five point lead, before a layup by Anne Simon, another three-pointer by Rockwood, and one from behind the arc from Adrianna Smith put Maine up for the final time 14-11. #2 seeded Ohio State then took over. They would end the opening 10 minutes on a run of 11-2 to take the lead for good 22-16. They continued the big spurt in the second as their full court pressure defense forced the guests into 12 first half miscues, as the Buckeyes scored 16 of the first 18 points of the period to push it out to a 38-18 lead. 17 is the closest the Black Bears would be the rest of the way, ending their 10th appearance in the NCAA Tournament and first since 2019 with a final record of 24-10.
Simon, the graduate guard and two time America East Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year including this season, ended her Maine career by leading the way for the conference champions in the loss with 25 points (11-21 field goals), three rebounds, three assists, and three steals. Rockwood finished with 15 points (5-10 three-pointers) and two steals. Smith also got into double figures with 11 points, six rebounds, and six assists but also committed an uncharacteristic nine turnovers while also suffering an ankle injury in the first half. The Black Bears overall shot very well from the floor (52.3%), also knocking down 7-19 (36.8%) from three-point range, but would be forced into a total of 22 turnovers in the defeat in having their six game win streak snapped. Ohio State (26-5) had four players in double figures led by Jacy Sheldon with 19 points, including her 2000th career collegiate point on a basket in the second quarter. Cotie McMahon also recorded 13 points, while Celeste Taylor and Taylor Thierry each put in 12 points. The nationally ranked #7 Buckeyes out of the Big 10 will face Duke in the second round on Sunday. That was the 27th opponent in their 31 games that Ohio State has forced into 20 or more turnovers.
Written by Chris Lessner
