COLUMBUS, Ohio — In an impressive performance, freshman Jaloni Cambridge scored 20 points, secured six rebounds, and provided three assists, leading five Buckeyes to score in double digits as the tenth-ranked Ohio State decisively defeated Northwestern, 92-62, on Sunday.
Cotie McMahon contributed 16 points alongside five rebounds, while Ava Watson added 15 points. Chance Gray chipped in with 14 points, and Elsa Lemmila rounded out the scoring with 11 points for Ohio State, which is now 14-0 overall and 3-0 in the Big Ten Conference. The Buckeyes led by 19 at halftime, 53-34, and extended their lead to as much as 39 points during the fourth quarter.
For Northwestern, Kyla Jones led the team with 15 points, and Grace Sullivan added 13 points. With this loss, the Wildcats fell to 7-8 overall and 0-4 in conference play, marking their third consecutive defeat.
In terms of strategy, Ohio State was able to establish an early lead, allowing Coach Kevin McGuff to rest his starters ahead of their upcoming game against No. 24 Michigan on Wednesday. The Buckeyes’ unbeaten record is their best start since the 2022-23 season, when they won their first 19 games and reached the Elite Eight.
Northwestern was missing key player Taylor Williams, who averages 10.5 points and 9.1 rebounds per game, due to a lower-body injury sustained during a matchup against Oregon.
A pivotal moment occurred in the first half, where Ohio State maintained a comfortable lead until late in the period when the margin decreased to 20 points. McMahon and Watson made critical plays to extend the lead back, with Watson stealing the ball and assisting McMahon’s easy layup, followed by McMahon retrieving a defensive rebound and finding Watson for a three-pointer, leading to a 51-31 score with just 43 seconds remaining in the first half.
Ohio State entered the game boasting impressive statistics, ranking third nationally in turnover margin at plus-12.5 and fifth in turnovers forced with an average of 26.2 per game. The Buckeyes demonstrated this defensive prowess by forcing 29 turnovers from Northwestern while only committing 12 themselves.
Looking ahead, Ohio State will travel to face No. 24 Michigan on Wednesday, while Northwestern will host Indiana in their next game.
