SAN FRANCISCO — In a decisive matchup on Friday night, No. 11 Ohio State showcased their dominance by defeating Stanford 84-59 during the Invisalign Bay Area Women’s Classic. Cotie McMahon led the charge for Ohio State, contributing 16 points and six rebounds. Despite struggling at times with her shooting, converting only 5 out of 15 attempts, McMahon’s performance was pivotal in maintaining the Buckeyes’ unbeaten streak, now at 12-0.
Nunu Agara emerged as the leading scorer for Stanford, putting up 17 points as the Cardinal faced challenges throughout the game. A dry spell in the first quarter hindered the Cardinal’s performance, as they missed five consecutive shots and eight of their last nine during a critical stretch that saw them go without a field goal for the final 4:02 of the quarter. Adding to their woes, they also failed to make a basket for larger portions of nearly seven minutes spanning between the two quarters.
This encounter marked the first meeting between the two teams since December 15, 2019, when Stanford clinched a victory with a score of 71-52 at their home ground. During a first-quarter timeout, the stands buzzed with excitement as a tribute to retired Hall of Fame coach Tara VanDerveer was displayed on the big screen, reminding everyone of her impactful legacy within both programs.
Key insights from the game highlight Ohio State’s impressive ball handling, as they committed just six turnovers and capitalized on Stanford’s 19 errors with 17 points. On the other hand, Stanford continued to grapple without their junior point guard Talana Lepolo, who has missed her sixth consecutive game due to a knee injury. The team has released minimal information regarding her recovery, leaving them without her crucial playmaking abilities, evident in their struggle to accumulate only four assists throughout the game.
A crucial factor in the game was Ohio State’s formidable defense, particularly their perimeter coverage, which limited Stanford to a dismal 2 for 16 from three-point range. The Cardinal’s inability to convert their initial eight attempts from deep underscored their struggles. Furthermore, Ohio State dominated the paint, scoring 44 points against Stanford’s 36—an area where the Cardinal had ranked poorly coming into the game, with only 42.7% of their points derived from the paint.
Looking ahead, Ohio State will face Rutgers on December 29, while Stanford will take a break for the holidays before squaring off against SMU in an ACC matchup on January 2.
