Eric Boggs
For the third straight season, Ohio State women’s basketball has earned the privilege of hosting NCAA Tournament games at the Schottenstein Center. The Buckeyes, awarded a No. 4 seed in this year’s tournament, will open their postseason campaign against No. 13 seed Montana State on Friday at 5:30 p.m., with ESPN2 providing television coverage.
Should Ohio State emerge victorious, the team will remain on its home court for a second-round matchup on Sunday, facing either No. 5 seed Tennessee or No. 12 seed South Florida. The Buckeyes are positioned in the Birmingham 3 region, meaning that a trip to Birmingham, Alabama, for the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight awaits if they advance past the opening weekend. Texas holds the top seed in the region, while TCU and Notre Dame round out the top three at No. 2 and No. 3, respectively.
Coming into the tournament with a 25-6 record, Ohio State is determined to make the most of its home-court advantage this year after last season’s disappointing second-round exit at the hands of Duke. The Buckeyes have recent postseason success to build on, however, as they reached the Elite Eight in 2023 after hosting their first- and second-round matchups as a No. 3 seed.
Head coach Kevin McGuff emphasized the importance of a game-by-game approach, recognizing the challenges that lie ahead, beginning with a Montana State team that boasts an impressive 30-3 record.
“It’s a very difficult bracket with a lot of great teams,” McGuff noted. “We’ll take it one game at a time, but we know we have to be at our best to win the first one and advance beyond that.”
Ohio State enters the tournament looking to regain its rhythm after a 5-5 stretch to close out the season. The Buckeyes fell to eventual No. 1 overall seed UCLA in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals, suffering a 75-46 defeat. Despite this inconsistency, McGuff remains confident in his team’s ability to make a deep run—provided they can execute at a high level for a full 40 minutes.
“Our best is really good,” McGuff said. “We just haven’t been as consistent as we need to be. We’ve been focusing on the fundamentals on both ends of the floor so we can perform at the level we’re capable of for the entirety of a game.”
The Buckeyes received encouraging news regarding their roster ahead of the tournament. Standout players Jaloni Cambridge and Cotie McMahon, who exited the Big Ten semifinal against UCLA with injuries, are expected to be available for Friday’s game.
“They should be fine,” McGuff confirmed. “They both got a little banged up, but having this past week without games has been really beneficial. By Friday, they should be good to go.”
Additionally, freshman guard Ava Watson, who has been sidelined since February, has a strong chance of returning for the tournament. However, the status of freshman center Elsa Lemmilä remains uncertain due to a foot injury, with McGuff indicating that further updates will come later in the week.
With a talented roster and the energy of a home crowd behind them, Ohio State has a prime opportunity to make an impact in this year’s NCAA Tournament. The Buckeyes will look to rise to the occasion and capitalize on their home-court advantage as they pursue a deep postseason run.
