No. 12 Ohio State (17-2) pulled off another top-10 upset, defeating No. 9 TCU (18-2) 70-69 at the Coretta Scott King Classic in Newark, New Jersey, on Jan. 19.
A little over a week removed from an 89-76 road win over the former No. 8 Maryland, the Buckeyes had to repeat the way they defeated the Terrapin, build a second-half comeback to overcome the Horned Frogs.
“We have a style that can come from behind,” Ohio State coach Kevin McGuff said. “We play with great pace, we can press, we can create turnovers. So, we never feel like we’re out of the game.”
After trailing by as many as 10 points in the first half, the Buckeyes took their first lead with less than a minute left in the third quarter.
Forward Kylee Kitts connected with forward Elsa Lemmila for a layup to give Ohio State a 45-44 lead, which lasted for 21 seconds once TCU guard Olivia Miles hit two free throws.
Miles, a two-time second-team All-American, finished with a game-high 24 points, while also contributing 11 rebounds and seven assists.
“She [Myles] sees the court so well,” Ohio State guard Jaloni Cambridge said. “She’s such a great point guard, and what she’s been able to do in her career has been nothing short of amazing. … So, I’m just looking at that and trying to do the same things she can do.”
Ohio State and TCU traded the lead six times and were tied nine times before guard Chance Gray hit a 3-point basket with 16 seconds remaining that ultimately solidified the victory.
Gray kept the Buckeyes alive in the first half, scoring 17 of their 33 points, and continued being their most consistent player. She finished with a team-high 22 points.
“Chance really stepped up and had an incredible game,” McGuff said. “We had a dreadful first quarter, as a team, but when we got going in the second quarter, much of that had to do with Chance.”
The Buckeyes still had to battle to hold off TCU in the final 15 seconds, as a 3-pointer from Veronica Sheffey pulled the Horned Frogs within one point, 70-69, with less than a second on the clock.
TCU quickly fouled Cambridge, who hit only one of her two free throws. According to McGuff, he instructed Cambridge to miss the second attempt.
“That was my fault,” McGuff said. “I should have just told her to make it, and just kept it simple, because all they can do is [launch] the ball, if we’re up by three. So that was my fault. That was bad coaching.”
The Horned Frogs got the ball back for one last opportunity to win. They inbounded the ball with .3 seconds, but Lemmila grabbed a steal in mid-air, sealing the game.
Lemmila was the other key factor, alongside Gray, for Ohio State. The 6-foot-6 sophomore finished with 17 points, seven rebounds, five assists and six blocks.
The Buckeyes opened the game going 1 for 6 from the field, with a 3-pointer from Kitts being their only basket through the first 4:30 of play.
TCU finished the first quarter ahead 18-8 despite recording six turnovers compared to Ohio State’s four.
Ohio State would eventually capitalize on TCU mistakes, scoring 18 points off the Horned Frogs’ 20 turnovers throughout the game.
In the second quarter, Ohio State began to show life and went on a 7-0 run to cut a nine-point TCU lead to two points in less than two minutes. Cambridge contributed on every basket during the run.
Cambridge averaged 21.8 points and 4.3 assists going into the game, but notched just 18 against the Horned Frogs, going 7 for 22. However, Cambridge still led the Buckeyes with eight assists.
“I think the shot that won the game for us was Chance’s 3, but we called a play that was really for Jaloni,” McGuff said. “She didn’t get a good shot, and she found Chance … and it shows you who she is. She’s not going to take a bad shot just because the ball is in her hands.”
Ohio State returns to Big Ten play at The Schottenstein Center when it hosts Indiana at 8 p.m. Jan. 22.
