_No. 12 Ohio State Women’s Basketball Falls in OT at No. 19 Maryland_
The No. 12 Ohio State women’s basketball team suffered a heartbreaking loss on the road, falling to No. 19 Maryland 75-73 in overtime on Thursday night.
The Buckeyes, who were looking to bounce back from a tough loss to Michigan on Sunday, were led by senior guard Jacy Sheldon, who scored a game-high 22 points. However, it was not enough to overcome the Terrapins’ strong defensive effort and clutch shooting down the stretch.
“We had our chances, but we just couldn’t capitalize,” said Ohio State head coach Kevin McGuff. “Maryland played a great game, and we have to give them credit. We’ll learn from this and move on.”
The game was a back-and-forth affair, with both teams trading baskets and neither able to gain a significant advantage. The Buckeyes led by as many as seven points in the third quarter, but the Terrapins rallied to take the lead in the fourth.
Ohio State had a chance to win the game in regulation, but Sheldon’s three-point attempt at the buzzer fell short, sending the game into overtime.
In the extra period, Maryland outscored Ohio State 9-7, with the Terrapins’ Diamond Miller scoring five of her team-high 20 points in overtime.
“We knew it was going to be a tough game, but we showed a lot of heart and determination,” said Maryland head coach Brenda Frese. “Our players made some big plays down the stretch, and we were able to come out on top.”
The loss was a tough one for the Buckeyes, who fell to 19-5 overall and 10-4 in the Big Ten. Ohio State had been ranked as high as No. 2 in the country earlier this season, but has struggled in recent weeks, losing three of its last five games.
“We’re not playing our best basketball right now, but we’re still a good team,” said McGuff. “We’ll regroup and refocus, and we’ll be ready to go for our next game.”
Ohio State will look to bounce back on Sunday, when it hosts Purdue at the Schottenstein Center. The Buckeyes will be looking to get back on track and make a push for the Big Ten regular-season title.
Maryland, meanwhile, improved to 19-6 overall and 10-4 in the Big Ten. The Terrapins have won four of their last five games, and are making a strong push for the NCAA Tournament.
“We’re feeling good about ourselves right now,” said Frese. “We’re playing some of our best basketball of the season, and we’re excited to see where it takes us.”
The win over Ohio State was a big one for Maryland, and it will be interesting to see how the Terrapins follow it up. With a strong defensive effort and some clutch shooting, Maryland was able to pull off a significant upset and give itself a boost in the Big Ten standings.
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