Ohio State bounces back from loss with 88-48 victory over Winthrop

Following a 19-point loss to No. 1 UConn, the Ohio State Buckeyes women’s basketball team rebounded against the Winthrop Eagles of the Big South Conference with a 88-48 win in Columbus Wednesday night. With the win, the Buckeyes improve to 10-4 on the season, while the Eagles fall to 1-11.

Junior guard Kelsey Mitchell led the Buckeyes in scoring with 19 points on the night. Forwards Tori McCoy and Stephanie Mavunga scored 12 points a piece, with McCoy coming off the bench. Mavunga also added 14 rebounds for a double-double performance.

Freshman forward Angela Coello Perez led the Eagles in scoring with 16 points, while senior guard Erica Williams added 10. The Eagles had just eight points off the bench on the night as they shot under 30 percent from the field.

The Buckeyes shot just under 44 percent from the field and were 9-of-24 from three-point range. They pulled in 54 rebounds to Winthrop’s 41, and gave up just nine turnovers to the Eagles’ 24. Despite padding a large lead for much of the game, Ohio State was just 11-of-20 from the free throw line.

Ohio State opened up scoring with a layup by Mavunga, assisted by Mitchell. Mitchell and senior forward Shayla Cooper followed up with two quick threes to put the Buckeyes up early. Winthrop closed the gap to three halfway through the first, but the Buckeyes held the Eagles scoreless for nearly five minutes as they went on a 15-point run, ending the quarter up 27-11.

The Buckeyes didn’t let up in the second, with Mavunga hitting two quick layups to improve Ohio State’s lead to 20. Winthrop was held scoreless for nearly three minutes into the second quarter as the Buckeyes continued to build their lead. The Buckeyes finished the half up 48-25.

Mavunga led the Buckeyes in the first half with 12 points, with Michell close behind with 10. After recording just six assists against UConn, Ohio State logged an even dozen in the first half alone against Winthrop. The Eagles turned the ball over 15 times in the first half, compared to five for Ohio State.

Mitchell opened up scoring in the second half with a field goal a minute into play. Winthrop responded with a quick jumper of their own, but Mitchell immediately followed up with a three-pointer on the next possession. The defense once again held the Eagles scoreless for nearly five minutes in the third as they went on another 12-0 run, ending the quarter up 71-37.

Winthrop hit three free throws early in the fourth quarter, but Ohio State responded with a three-pointer by sophomore guard Sierra Calhoun, the start of a 17-5 run for the Buckeyes as they held the Eagles without a point for more than three minutes.

Next up, Ohio State opens Big Ten play against Minnesota Dec. 28 in Columbus. Tip off is scheduled for 7 p.m. with the game televised on BTN Plus.