Ohio State achieved a significant victory against No. 8 Maryland, defeating the Terrapins 89-76 on Sunday in College Park. This win marks the Buckeyes’ first victory over a top 10 team this season and solidifies their position in the competitive landscape of women’s college basketball.
Jaloni Cambridge stood out in the game, scoring 28 points, grabbing a career-high nine rebounds, matching her career-high with eight assists, and recording her 100th career steal. She earned accolades as both the Naismith Player of the Week and the Big Ten Player of the Week for her performance. Kylee Kitts also had a noteworthy game, tying her career-best with 18 points, while Kennedy Cambridge (14 points) and Chance Gray (11 points) contributed significantly to the team’s scoring. Additionally, Elsa Lemmilä matched her season-high with 11 rebounds.
As Ohio State prepares to host Penn State on Wednesday evening, the Nittany Lions come into the matchup with a 7-10 overall record and an 0-6 mark in Big Ten play, having recently lost to RV Illinois 92-76. This will be a crucial game for both teams, especially considering the Nittany Lions’ roster features two top-six scorers in the Big Ten, Gracie Merkle, averaging 19.1 points per game, and Kiyomi McMiller, with 18.9 points per game. Merkle leads the conference in field goal percentage at 74.6%.
Historically, Ohio State holds a 38-31 disadvantage in the all-time series against Penn State, although they lead 14-13 when matched up in Columbus. Notably, Penn State dealt Ohio State their first loss of the previous season, marking a challenging rivalry.
The game on Wednesday is set to tip-off at 6:30 p.m. and will be streamed on B1G+ and AM1460 radio. Fans attending the game can take advantage of free parking, and Ohio State students can enter for free with their BuckID. As a fun twist, attendees are encouraged to wear ‘yacht rock’ or Hawaiian-themed attire, in line with the game’s promotional theme.
This matchup promises to be an exciting encounter as both teams vie to improve their standings in the Big Ten. With strong individual performances and a supportive home crowd, Ohio State aims to build upon their momentum from the victory against Maryland.