No. 17 Ohio State vs Michigan State | Big Ten | 1.14.24

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio State vs Michigan State

The No. 17/16 Ohio State Buckeyes (13-3, 4-1 B1G) beat RV/RV Michigan State (12-4, 2-3 B1G) by a 70-65 margin on Sunday afternoon in the awareness game.

The first quarter featured five lead changes and Ohio State found itself with a 20-18 lead after 10 minutes. Back-and-forth play continued in the second quarter with Michigan State holding a 37-34 lead going into the locker room. The teams headed into the final quarter tied at 50. Ohio State scored the first eight points of the fourth quarter and did not surrender the lead.

Cotie McMahon was the first Buckeye to reach double figures and finished with 11 points. Jacy Sheldon (18), Rikki Harris (11), Taylor Thierry (13) and Rebeka Mikulášiková (10) also scored in double figures. Thierry added a game-high 11 rebounds for her second double-double of the season. Celeste Taylor totaled a career-high five blocks.

How it Happened
Each team scored on its first possession before the defenses buckled down. Ohio State used a 6-0 run to take its first lead of the game at 8-6 with 4:48 to play in the opening quarter. There were four more lead changes before the end of the quarter as the Buckeyes held a 20-18 lead.

McMahon opened scoring in the second quarter before Michigan State tied the game at 22 with 6:35 to play before halftime. The Spartans used a 7-0 run to take a 31-26 lead with 3:22 remaining. The Buckeyes tied the game at 31 out of a timeout but Michigan State held the 37-34 lead at halftime.

Thierry tied the game at 37 with a triple to start the third quarter. The teams traded baskets before a 6-0 Buckeye run gave OSU a 45-41 lead just past the midway point of the quarter. Michigan State tied the game at 45 with two minutes to play and the teams were tied 50-50 after three quarters.

Ohio State scored the first eight points of the quarter, building a 58-50 lead with 6:33 to play. Michigan State responded with the next five points to trim OSU's lead to 58-55 with 5:27 remaining and got as close as two points at 60-58. The Buckeyes scored the next four points and held the Spartans scoreless for a span of three minutes. Michigan State hung around with a couple late shots but Ohio State earned the 70-65 win.