Eric Boggs
Ohio State once again found itself in a battle after surrendering a double-digit lead, but the Buckeyes displayed resilience and determination to secure an 86-78 overtime victory over Iowa at the Schottenstein Center on Monday afternoon. This marked the second consecutive game in which Ohio State had to recover from a late-game collapse, following a similar scenario against Minnesota.
Despite allowing a 14-point lead to vanish in the final three minutes against the Golden Gophers, the Buckeyes found themselves in familiar territory against the Hawkeyes, giving up a 12-point lead in the final two minutes of regulation. However, much like their previous outing, Ohio State responded with composure in overtime, proving once again why they remain one of the top teams in the nation. The victory improved their record to 22-3 on the season and 11-3 in Big Ten play while snapping Iowa’s six-game winning streak.
Jaloni Cambridge delivered an outstanding performance with 29 points, while Cotie McMahon contributed 25, and Kennedy Cambridge set a career-high with 16 points. Lucy Olsen led Iowa with 27 points, but her efforts weren’t enough to overcome the Buckeyes’ firepower.
From the opening tip, Ohio State asserted itself, jumping out to a 14-6 lead with Jaloni Cambridge and McMahon leading the charge. By the end of the first quarter, the Buckeyes held a commanding 22-12 advantage, fueled by Kennedy Cambridge’s two clutch three-pointers off the bench.
The defensive intensity was on full display in the second quarter, as Ohio State held Iowa without a field goal for the final 5:33 of the first half, entering the break with a 34-21 lead. However, Iowa responded in the third quarter with two scoring runs that cut the deficit to just four points. The Buckeyes maintained their composure, closing the quarter ahead 51-44, but the Hawkeyes continued to apply pressure, pulling within two points early in the fourth.
McMahon’s back-to-back baskets provided temporary relief, and a 6-0 run helped Ohio State regain control. Yet, with just 1:38 remaining, the Buckeyes’ lead stood at 12 points before Iowa mounted a furious comeback, knocking down four three-pointers and converting a three-point play in a span of 82 seconds. Missed free throws from McMahon and Cambridge allowed Iowa to claw its way back, and two final free throws from Olsen tied the game, forcing overtime for the second straight contest.
Iowa briefly took the lead in overtime, but the Buckeyes quickly responded with five straight points. Olsen kept it close with a pair of free throws, but McMahon countered with a tough layup through contact. Although she missed the ensuing free throw, Kennedy Cambridge made a pivotal defensive play, blocking an Iowa attempt and sparking a fast-break opportunity that resulted in a Taylor Thierry layup. Jaloni Cambridge then iced the game with two free throws, securing the hard-fought victory for Ohio State.
Head coach Kevin McGuff acknowledged the team’s inconsistency in closing out games, emphasizing the importance of maintaining focus throughout all four quarters.
“We’re good enough, but we’re not consistent enough,” McGuff stated. “If we played the last five minutes of the game like we did in overtime, we wouldn’t be in these situations. We had great energy, great communication, and executed at a high level in overtime, but we need to commit to that for 40 minutes.”
McMahon echoed that sentiment, stressing the need for improved defensive effort.
“It’s something we’ve struggled with all season,” she admitted. “We need to take more pride in our defense and commit to it every possession. It’s not that we don’t know how to play defense; we just need to be more consistent.”
Currently ranked eighth in the AP poll and 14th in the NCAA selection committee’s initial top 16, the Buckeyes maintain a half-game lead over Illinois for third place in the Big Ten but remain two games behind USC and 1.5 games behind UCLA in the standings.
Ohio State now turns its attention to a road matchup against Indiana on Thursday night before returning home to face Purdue on Sunday at Value City Arena. With the postseason approaching, the Buckeyes will look to build on their resilience and tighten up their late-game execution to remain a formidable force in the Big Ten and beyond.
