The Buckeyes are back up for their final game of the Daytona Beach Classic.
Ohio State women’s basketball started the Daytona Beach Classic on Thursday by defeating the Old Dominion Monarchs. Now, the Buckeyes are back on the court Friday, this time going up against a former OSU assistant leading his first program.
Preview
The start of the two-game tournament went in the Buckeyes’ favor, but it took some time and trials. Both teams on Thanksgiving morning were off, starting the game shooting 25 and 20 percent for the Buckeyes and Monarchs, respectively.
Ohio State got going and built up a 20-point halftime lead, but when shots didn’t fall in the third quarter, the defense followed and Old Dominion outscored the Buckeyes in the frame, 18-16.
Ajae Petty shined, having her best game in scarlet and gray with 24 points and 11 rebounds. The connection between Petty and point guard Jaloni Cambridge resulted in five baskets, all but one of the freshman guard’s assists in the victory.
Taylor Thierry also hit a milestone, scoring her 1,000th career point — all with Ohio State.
Despite the win, head coach Kevin McGuff didn’t seem too happy with level of play and the third quarter defensive lapse. McGuff was vocal in the second half, despite the Buckeyes never going under a double-digit lead.
On the other side of the court is Utah State, led by head coach Wesley Brooks. The former assistant coach for McGuff brings a program he’s practically rebuilding from the ground up, entering Friday with a 1-5 record.
Utah State’s goal is to play a similar style of defense as the Buckeyes, hoping to force turnovers and get easy baskets on the other side of steals. The Aggies average 13.67 steals per game, forcing 136 total turnovers, one less than Air Force in the Mountain West.
Offensively, Brooks’ goal is to shoot from deep and try to get 40 three-point attempts up per game. The Aggies are missing the mark so far, shooting 32.7 per game, which in context is roughly seven more per game than the Buckeyes over the past few seasons.
Leading the way is guard Cheyenne Stubbs, one of six players who returned from last the team last season. The guard averages 14.3 points, 3.0 assists and 2.7 steals per game and is the pendulum in which the Aggies offense swings.
What troubles Utah State the most is rebounding. Utah State is last in the Mountain West in allowing rebounds with 47 per game.
With taking so many shots, not all of them can go in with the Aggies shooting 34.8 percent overall and 26 percent from beyond the arc. The lone win for Brooks’ side this season came in the one game where they out rebounded their opponent, grabbing 47 against Cal State Bakersfield.
Projected Starters
Ohio State
G- Jaloni Cambridge
G- Chance Gray
G- Kennedy Cambridge
F- Taylor Thierry
F- Ajae Petty
Lineup Notes
- Petty’s double-double is the forward’s first in her lone season with Ohio State.
- Cambridge’s six assists is the fourth game of the year for the freshman where she has at least six assists.
- Every starter for the Buckeyes had at least two steals against the Monarchs.
Utah State
G- Cheyenne Stubbs
G- Jamisyn Heaton
G- Mia Tarver
G- Elise Livingston
C- Sophie Sene
Lineup Notes
- Mia Tarver is the only Aggie to start every game this season. Overall, nine different players have started for Utah State this season.
- Jamisyn Heaton enters Friday’s game with a double-double against Omaha, the first in Division I for the junior, scoring 18 points and grabbing 12 rebounds.
- Cheyenne Stubbs is sixth in the conference in three-point shooting percentage at 33.3 percent.
Prediction
Utah State is going to have trouble trying to run against the Buckeyes. Ohio State will take their tried and true press and force a season high in opponent turnovers.
Jaloni Cambridge will have a big game, scoring at least 25 points in the win with Ajae Petty also adding her best game as a Buckeye, offensively. Ohio State should roll in a game that will look a lot like their game against Ohio University.
How to Watch
Date: Friday, Nov. 29, 2024
Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
Where: Ocean Center, Daytona Beach, Florida
Stream: BallerTV
LGHL Score Prediction: 100-55, Ohio State Buckeyes
Big Ten Looming
After what’s been a mostly lopsided non-conference schedule, Ohio State is playing its toughest opponent yet when they welcome the Illinois Fighting Illini to the Schottenstein Center on Dec. 8.
It’s the first ranked opponent for McGuff’s side and arguably the most important Big Ten game of the season — maybe not in overall standings, but how this Buckeye team matches up against a likely ranked conference side.