COLUMBUS, Ohio — Cotie McMahon delivered an impressive performance by scoring 25 points, while Elsa Lemmila contributed with six points and an essential last-second block, leading No. 9 Ohio State to a thrilling 87-84 overtime victory against Minnesota on Thursday night.

Ava Watson was also instrumental for Ohio State, netting 16 points, while Jaloni Cambridge and Taylor Thierry each added 10 points. This win improved Ohio State’s record to 21-3 overall and 10-3 in the Big Ten. Despite holding a commanding 14-point lead in the fourth quarter, they faced a tough challenge from Minnesota.

On the other side, Sophie Hart shone for Minnesota, scoring 21 points, significantly higher than her season average of 8.5 points. Alexsia Rose contributed 17 points, helping the Gophers achieve double-digit scoring from five players in total.

Key insights from the game highlighted Ohio State’s defensive prowess, as they recorded 13 steals, outpacing Minnesota’s four. This aggressive defense allowed Ohio State to capitalize on Minnesota’s errors, scoring 30 points off turnovers.

Meanwhile, Minnesota displayed strong rebounding skills, grabbing 35 rebounds compared to Ohio State’s 27. This advantage translated into a ten-point lead in second-chance points, keeping the Gophers competitive throughout the match.

A pivotal moment in the game occurred when Lemmila made a crucial block against Annika Stewart in the corner, effectively sealing the win for Ohio State with only one second left on the clock.

A notable statistic from the game reveals that Ohio State shot a remarkable 75% from the field during overtime, making six out of eight attempts, a feat that proved vital as Minnesota also found their rhythm, shooting 50% overall.

Looking ahead, Minnesota will welcome Oregon for a matchup on Sunday, while Ohio State prepares to host Iowa on Monday.