Jaloni Cambridge Threads the Needle as Buckeyes Take Down Golden Gophers 

By Nick Jenkinson/Excel H Sports

The #5 Seed Ohio State Buckeyes knocked off the #4 Minnesota Golden Gophers 60-55 in the Quarterfinals of the Allstate Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament Friday afternoon at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Ohio State improves to 26-6 and advances to the Semifinals tomorrow at 2 PM against Top Seed UCLA. Minnesota is 22-8 on the season and return to Minneapolis to await their postseason tournament fate.

Jaloni Cambridge scored 17 points, dished out 6 assists, 5 rebounds, 3 steals and a block. With 28 seconds left in the game Cambridge threaded the needle driving to the bucket with 16 seconds left to seal the win for Ohio State. Minnesota’s Mara Braun drilled a three pointer with 1:32 left in the fourth quarter. The Golden Gophers missed four three pointers after Braun three pointer as they had several opportunities to take the lead but could not take advantage.

    Elsa Lemmilla scored 17 points and pulled down 11 rebounds her 6th double-double of the season. The 6-6 Sophomore from Finland recorded her double figure rebound of the season and her sixth in a row. Chance Gray added 11 points for the Buckeyes. Ohio State finished 26-64 from the field for 40%, 6-26 from three-point range for 23% and 2-5 from the free throw for 40%. Ohio State had 27 rebounds, 17 assists, 12 steals, 3 blocks and 11 turnovers. Ohio State scored 36 points in the paint, 15 points off turnovers, 15 fastbreak turnovers, 7 second chance points and no bench points.

   Grace Grocholski led Minnesota with 18 points. Sophie Hart recorded a career high 19 rebounds and 12 points for her fourth double-double of the season. The 6-5 Senior from Farmington, Minnesota recorded her seventh game of the season with double figure rebounds. Amaya Battle added 10 points for the Golden Gophers. Minnesota finished 23-54 from the field for 42%, 4-18 from three-point range for 22% and 5-8 from the free throw line for 62%. Minnesota pulled down 44 rebounds, dished out 15 assists, 7 steals, 1 block and 21 turnovers. Minnesota scored 34 points in the paint, 12 points off turnovers, 10 fastbreak points, 7 bench points and 6 fastbreak points.

   The game featured six ties and three lead changes. Minnesota led Ohio State 18-16 after the first quarter and Buckeyes outscored the Golden Gophers 16-10 in the second quarter as Ohio State went into the locker room leading 32-28 at halftime. The game was tight in the second half as the Buckeyes outscored the Golden Gophers by 1 point 15-14 in the third quarter as Ohio State took a 47-42 lead into the fourth quarter. Both teams scored 13 points in the final ten minutes.

   Ohio State gets ready to play its third game in three days and faces a UCLA team who beat them in Columbus 82-75 on December 28. Jaloni Cambridge scored 28 points against the Bruins in the regular season, Elsa Lemmilla scored 13 points and had 7 rebounds and has a tough matchup with Big Ten Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year Lauren Betts who scored 18 points and had 16 rebounds in the first meeting.

   For Minnesota the Golden Gophers are expected in be in the NCAA Tournament and as head coach Dawn Plitzuweit said after the game “We are thankful that we get to keep playing”. The Golden Gophers Head Coach said that Buckeyes “Speed them up and made them feel uncomfortable” but they had plenty of chances at the end of the game to pull out the victory, but Ohio State holds on an gets ready for another one tomorrow afternoon against UCLA.