Ohio State looks to regain momentum against Michigan
The Ohio State women's basketball team is looking for its first set of backto-back wins since an 85-54 victory Jan. 19 against Northwestern that marked the end of the Buckeyes' 19-0 start.
It's been a tough go since then. OSU has lost five of its last eight games, with four of those losses coming against topten opponents.
Monday the challenge doesn't get much easier as No. 13 Ohio State (22-5, 11-5) travels to No. 12 Michigan (20-6, 10-5). A win would not only give the Buckeyes some much-needed momentum but would ensure them a top-four finish in the Big Ten, and thus a doublebye into the third round of the conference tournament, which tips off March 1.
The Wolverines are led by Leigha Brown, who averages 17.52 points per game. Not far behind her is Laila Phelia's 17.05 points, but Phelia has been out since Feb. 2 due to a lower-leg injury. Her absence has altered Michigan's approach defensively, causing the Wolverines to run zone for the first time all season – notable because defense has been one of Michigan's strengths.
That was seen in the earlier matchup between OSU and UM. Ohio State won 66-57 at the Covelli Center on New Year's Eve, but the Wolverines held OSU to just 35% shooting from the field and 21.7% from 3-point range.
"We were kind of taking quick shots (early), and you can't do that against Michigan," Ohio State coach Mcguff said. "You have to be able to move the ball side-to-side to kind of break them down a little bit. They'll force you into some tough shots early, and we were doing that too much."
As good as Michigan's defense was that game, Ohio State's was perhaps just as impressive, forcing 27 turnovers.
"I thought we showed a lot of tough
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ness with our press," said Mcguff. "I thought it kind of wore on them a little bit."
The Buckeyes' performance on that side of the ball has been pivotal. In their wins, Ohio State is giving up an average of 62.8 points. In their losses, that number jumps to 81.4.
"This time of year, we've got to be way more consistent if we want to be the team we're capable of being down the stretch of the season," Mcguff said.
Ohio State is coming off a 67-55 win over Penn State, a game in which the Buckeyes' again played without senior and last year's leading scorer Jacy Sheldon. She remains day to day with an injured foot.