Sheldon shows again her heroics can lead OSU
The No. 3-seeded Ohio State women's basketball team led from the beginning all the way until the 2:09 mark of the fourth quarter against No. 6-seed North Carolina Monday. But the Tar Heels were almost always within striking distance during the second-round NCAA Tournament game at Value City Arena.
And after North Carolina took the lead, it was Ohio State senior point guard Jacy Sheldon's heroics that made the difference, including her game-winning basket with 1.8 seconds remaining to send OSU to a second straight Sweet 16 with a 71-69 victory.
“It was really special,” Sheldon said. “Being at our home court one more time this year and in March makes it even that much more special. I think sometimes in March, specifically, you have to find a way to win, and that's what we did today, and we did it together.”
Sheldon appeared in just six games during the regular season as she battled a lingering lower-leg injury. Ohio State coach Kevin Mcguff used her off and on and integrated her slowly into the lineup so the Buckeyes would have their point guard at full strength for the postseason.
Saturday's first-round win against James Madison was Sheldon's first start since Nov. 30, and she scored 17 points to go with nine assists, five rebounds and three steals to lead Ohio State's 16-point comeback against the Dukes.
Monday, Sheldon was the hero again. Her 16 points were one shy of senior guard Taylor Mikesell, who led the team with 17. Sheldon also added six rebounds, five assists and two steals.
So, when Mcguff needed to draw up the play for Ohio State's final shot, he knew which player he wanted to take it.
“The plan was to get it in Jacy's hands, for sure,” Mcguff said. “It didn't go exactly the way we wanted it. It got a little fouled up on our timing, and they guarded it well. They guarded the initial action really well. Eboni (Walker) made a great decision (holding off on passing) to Jacy because she really wasn't open.
OHIO STATE 71, NORTH CAROLINA 69
NORTH CAROLINA - Hodgson 2-2 0-0 6, Kelly 7-18 7-8 22, Todd-williams 6-14 3-3 16, Ustby 8-16 0-1 16, Adams 0-0 0-0 0, Key 0-1 0-0 0, Zelaya 0-1 0-0 0, Mcpherson 3-6 0-0 7, Paris 1-2 0-0 2. Totals: 27-60 10-12 69.
OHIO STATE - Mcmahon 6-11 2-5 14, Walker 4-7 7-8 15, Mikesell 6-13 1-1 17, Sheldon 6-14 3-4 16, Thierry 2-2 2-2 6, Mikulasikova 1-2 0-0 2, Harris 0-1 1-3 1. Totals: 25-50 16-23 71.
North Carolina 14 14 18 23 - 69
Ohio State 16 17 18 20 - 71
3-point goals: Hodgson 2, Kelly, Todd-williams, Mcpherson; Mikesell 4, Sheldon. Rebounds: North Carolina 29 (Ustby 9), Ohio St. 33 (Mcmahon 9). Assists: North Carolina 8 (Ustby 3), Ohio St. 16 (Sheldon 5). Fouled out: Adams; Thierry. Total fouls: North Carolina 22, Ohio St. 17. A: 5,186.
Then we swung the ball back around and got it back in her hands.
“I told them in the locker room, sometimes it's about X's and O's, and sometimes it's about having the best player on the court.”
The Buckeyes faced double-digit deficits in their previous three games, so Monday's nearly wire-to-wire lead was a break from that recent trend. Ohio State jumped out early, fueled by two 3-pointers from Mikesell and a defensive effort that held North Carolina off the scoreboard until the 5:55 mark of the first quarter. But UNC, paced by junior guard Deja Kelly, didn't stay quiet for long.
North Carolina turned the Buckeyes over 21 times, and Kelly's speed in transition off those turnovers made her almost
impossible for Ohio State to stop.
In the fourth quarter, the Buckeyes endured a nearly four-minute stretch without a made field goal, which enabled the Tar Heels to take their first lead.
North Carolina had a chance to extend its advantage on their next possession. Instead, Sheldon made a transition layup to put the Buckeyes back in front by one. On a subsequent play, Sheldon would draw a foul and make a free throw. North Carolina naturally looked to Kelly, who had been unstoppable for much of the game, for the game-tying basket, and her jump shot swished through the net with 9.8 seconds left.
In what could be her final game at Value City Arena, every one of the 5,186 in attendance knew who the final play would be drawn up for. Sheldon, unable to get open initially drifted to the corner while Walker dribbled the ball. Walker finally was able to hit Sheldon with a pass, and Sheldon drove toward the basket through three North Carolina defenders.
She didn't get her balance perfectly set, but it didn't matter. It was always going to be Sheldon's shot to take, and none of the Buckeyes doubted that she'd make it.