Mitchell’s 37 boosts OSU to overtime win
No. 9 Buckeyes tip No. 14 Stanford in Play4Kay Shootout.
Kelsey Mitchell LAS VEGAS — scored six of her gamehigh 37 points in overtime to lead No. 9 Ohio State to a 94-82 victory over No. 14 Stanford on Saturday night in the Play4Kay Shootout.
Mitchell was named MVP of the event.
Trailing by nine points after three quarters, the Buckeyes (7-1) outscored Stanford 27-18 in the fourth quarter to force overtime, and then went on a 13-0 run in the extra period to seal the win.
Asia Doss gave Ohio State its first lead of the contest when she knocked down a 3-pointer from the corner with 5:09 left in the game, then scored the Buckeyes’ first seven points in overtime.
Doss and Sierra Calhoun each finished with 15 points for the Buckeyes, while Linnae Harper added 12. Fairmont grad Makayla Waterman added five points and two rebounds for OSU.
Alanna Smith led Stanford (4-3) with 33 points and 16 rebounds, while Anna Wilson scored 21.
Smith’s presence helped Stanford outrebound the Buckeyes 45-39, while the Cardinal reserves outscored Ohio State’s bench 27-5.
But it wasn’t enough, as the Buckeyes stymied the Cardinal down the stretch. Stanford missed its last six field-goal attempts, and was held scoreless for the final 2:51 of overtime.
The Cardinal held a 33-26 lead at halftime, as it established itself early behind Smith’s impressive inside play and Wilson’s long-range game.
The duo accounted for 22 of Stanford’s 33 points, as Smith had a double-double at the half with 10 points and 10 rebounds and Wilson hit 4 of 5 from beyond the 3-point line.
Mitchell, who became the NCAA all-time leader for 3-pointers one night earlier, was kept in check by Stanford’s perimeter defense in the first half. The 5-foot-8 guard was 0 for 6 from the field — including 0 for 3 from 3-point range — but did go 6 for 7 from the free throw line.
Mitchell didn’t get her first field goal of the game until the 8:49 mark of the third quarter. She didn’t hit her first 3-pointer until 9:54 of the fourth quarter.