COLUMBUS, Ohio — In an impressive season opener, freshman Kennedy Cambridge showcased her talent by scoring 31 points, while teammate Cotie McMahon contributed 17 points as the No. 14 Ohio State Buckeyes triumphed over Cleveland State with a commanding score of 104-69 on Tuesday night.

Cambridge, who earned the title of McDonald’s All-American, is recognized as the highest-ranked recruit in the history of the Ohio State program, boasting an impressive overall rank of No. 2. In her debut performance, she shot an outstanding 12 of 14 from the field and converted all five of her free-throw attempts. Cambridge also recorded six rebounds, six assists, and finished with only two turnovers during her 26 minutes on the court.

Ohio State established control of the game early on, launching a 20-3 scoring run in the first quarter that set them ahead by a significant margin for the remainder of the match. Cambridge demonstrated her skills by hitting her first six field goals, including a pair of three-pointers on consecutive possessions early in the second quarter, which widened the Buckeyes’ lead to 19 points.

By the end of the first half, Cleveland State struggled to find their rhythm with just nine field goals made, allowing Ohio State to lead comfortably at 42-24. The Buckeyes capitalized on Cleveland State’s mistakes, scoring 17 points from 17 first-half turnovers.

In addition to Cambridge’s stellar performance, Taylor Thierry also made a notable contribution, scoring 11 points. This season, Ohio State aims to build on its success after securing its first outright Big Ten regular-season title since the 2009-10 season, finishing with a strong conference record of 16-2. The Buckeyes roster includes five freshmen and two new transfers this year.

For Cleveland State, Mickayla Perdue made a significant impact by scoring 22 of her total 29 points in the second half. Sara Guerreiro contributed 14 points, with 12 scored during the team’s 24 points in the first half. Colbi Maples, who was named the preseason player of the year in the Horizon League, added 11 points to the tally.

Cleveland State has earned recognition as the preseason favorite to win the Horizon League, marking a noteworthy achievement in the program’s history.