Buckeyes’ run proves a point

Ohio State scores 33 consecutive in confidence builder.

One devastating run was all Ohio State needed to bury its penultimate opponent before Big Ten play begins.

The No. 13 Buckeyes flipped a switch and scored 33 straight points between the final four minutes of the third quarter and the first 3½ minutes of the fourth to race to a 103-70 win over Dartmouth in front of 5,086 at Value City Arena on Friday night.

A more diligent press rushed the Big Green, which turned the ball over eight times during the lopsided 7½-minute stretch and allowed six different Ohio State players to score.

It showed the Buckeyes the extra energy they stored over an eight-day stretch between games and what they’re capable of. “Yeah, for sure, I feel like sometimes we surprise ourselves when we go on runs like that, and you don’t even notice because you’re just playing,” said redshirt junior guard Sierra Calhoun, who had 20 points.

The run also overshadowed a first 25 minutes in which the Buckeyes occasionally lacked their desired consistency. Ohio State (10-2) settled for shots with a higher degree of difficulty early in the game and struggled to close out on threes. The Big Green went 16 of 37 from three-point range, setting a record for the most threes made by an Ohio State women’s basketball opponent at Value City Arena.

“Well, it’s really good and at the same time it’s a little bit bad, like, ‘Hey, why aren’t we doing that more?’” Ohio State coach Kevin McGuff said of the run. “When we play with great effort, focus and energy, a lot of great things happen.”

Kelsey Mitchell led Ohio State with 22 points. Stephanie Mavunga had 18 points and 14 rebounds, and senior guard Linnae Harper added 16 points.

Andi Norman, a senior forward and an Upper Arlington alumna, led the way for Dartmouth (7-3) with 23 points and made 7 of 14 three-pointers.

What the Buckeyes lacked in three-point defense they made up for in avoiding foul trouble. Dartmouth became just the third opponent in Ohio State women’s basketball history to go 40 minutes without a free-throw attempt and the Buckeyes committed just two fouls, beating the previous program record of four set on Feb. 19, 2004.

Ohio State returns to the court today against Cincinnati in a nationally televised game at St. Ursula Academy in Cincinnati.