LINCOLN, Neb. — In an exciting matchup, No. 12 Ohio State emerged victorious against Nebraska with a final score of 72-66 on Sunday. Taylor Thierry was a standout player for the Buckeyes, contributing 23 points to the win. Cotie McMahon also made a significant impact, finishing the game with 15 points and securing 10 rebounds.
The game saw a pivotal moment when Thierry executed a driving layup, pushing Ohio State ahead 65-57 with roughly seven and a half minutes left in the fourth quarter. However, both teams faced a scoring drought until Nebraska’s Logan Nissley sunk a three-pointer, narrowing the gap to 65-60 with 3:45 left on the clock.
Nebraska came even closer as Alexis Markowski completed a three-point play, followed by a free throw from Callin Hake, bringing the score to 65-64. The Buckeyes struggled to find the basket, remaining scoreless for over five minutes until Thierry hit a crucial three-pointer to extend Ohio State’s lead to 68-64 with just two minutes remaining. Markowski responded with a jump shot, closing the score to 68-66, but that would be the last points for the Cornhuskers.
Nebraska’s late-game efforts faltered as they missed three attempts from beyond the arc and converted only two of their free throw attempts. Meanwhile, Madison Greene, who added 11 points to Ohio State’s tally, sealed the victory with four successful free throws within the final 23 seconds.
Markowski was a key player for Nebraska, scoring 18 points, while Hake contributed 12 points in the effort. The Cornhuskers initially took a 24-22 lead thanks to a three-pointer from Jessica Petrie with seven minutes to go in the second quarter. They carried a slim 38-36 lead into halftime but ultimately surrendered it midway through the third as McMahon spearheaded a quick five-point run for Ohio State, putting them ahead 52-50.
Despite regaining the lead with a three-pointer from Alberte Rimdal, Nebraska couldn’t maintain their advantage, as Thierry’s timely response solidified Ohio State’s hold on the game.
Looking ahead, Nebraska will be on the road for matchups against Purdue on Thursday and Indiana on Sunday. Ohio State, meanwhile, is set to host Washington on Sunday before continuing their journey to face No. 1 UCLA and No. 4 USC on the West Coast.
