Eric Boggs
In a thrilling quarterfinal matchup at the Big Ten Tournament, the No. 3-seeded Ohio State Buckeyes fought their way to a hard-earned 60-59 victory over No. 11 seed Iowa, securing their place in the semifinals. The win, which came down to the final moments, underscores the Buckeyes’ resilience and determination as they continue their pursuit of a conference title.
After receiving a double-bye into the quarterfinals, Ohio State stepped onto the court in Indianapolis eager to make a statement. The Buckeyes did just that, thanks to stellar performances from Cotie McMahon, who led all scorers with 18 points, and Taylor Thierry, who contributed 14. Ajae Petty dominated the boards, pulling down 12 rebounds to give Ohio State a crucial edge in the paint. But it was a pair of defensive stands in the final minute, coupled with McMahon’s clutch free throws, that ultimately sealed the victory and ended Iowa’s 11-game Big Ten Tournament winning streak dating back to 2022.
The Buckeyes wasted no time setting the tone, jumping out to a 14-5 lead behind McMahon’s sharpshooting. The first quarter belonged to Ohio State, as the defense stifled Iowa’s offense, holding the Hawkeyes to just 3-of-17 shooting. A 14-9 advantage at the end of the period was a testament to the Buckeyes’ intensity on both ends of the floor.
Momentum shifted in the second quarter when McMahon went to the bench with two early fouls. Iowa capitalized with a 9-4 surge to even the score at 18, but Ohio State quickly responded with a 6-0 run to reclaim the lead. The back-and-forth battle continued, with Iowa rattling off 10 straight points to take its first lead just before halftime. However, a critical three-point play from Thierry allowed the Buckeyes to regain a slim 29-28 advantage at the break.
Iowa once again came out strong to start the third quarter, seizing a 37-33 lead. But the Buckeyes refused to back down, as Kennedy Cambridge knocked down a pair of key three-pointers to help even the score. Thierry took over late in the quarter, stringing together five straight points—including a steal and fast-break layup—to put Ohio State back in front. Though Iowa answered with a three of its own, an Eboni Walker putback just before the buzzer ensured the Buckeyes held a 48-46 edge heading into the final period.
The fourth quarter delivered all the drama expected in a high-stakes tournament game. Thierry’s hot hand continued, as she drilled two three-pointers to extend Ohio State’s lead to six with just over four minutes remaining. But Iowa, determined to extend its tournament dominance, fought back with an 8-1 run, punctuated by two critical threes from Sydney Affolter, to take a 59-58 lead with 1:18 to play.
With the game hanging in the balance, the Buckeyes showed their grit. After an unfortunate turnover, Ohio State’s defense came up with a much-needed stop, giving McMahon the opportunity to attack the basket. Fouled on her drive, she calmly sank both free throws to put Ohio State back on top. The Buckeyes then locked down defensively, forcing missed shots from Affolter and Hannah Stuelke in the waning seconds to clinch the one-point win.
Now standing at 25-5 on the season, Ohio State shifts its focus to a formidable semifinal matchup against No. 2 seed UCLA, a team that bested the Buckeyes 65-52 in their lone regular-season meeting. With a trip to the Big Ten championship game on the line, Ohio State will need to bring its best against one of the nation’s top teams. Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m. ET on the Big Ten Network, as the Buckeyes look to continue their march toward conference supremacy.
