The Ohio State women’s basketball team endured lengthy shooting droughts in its first NCAA tournament game in four years.
Missouri State outrebounded the Buckeyes by 18.
Yet Ohio State, behind 25 points from Dublin Coffman grad Jacy Sheldon, was able to prevail over the Bears 63-56 in a first-round game in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
The sixth-seeded Buckeyes (24-6) will play the winner of host LSU and Jackson State in the second round on Monday.
“I’m really happy for our players because most of the team had not been able to participate in the NCAA Tournament,” OSU coach Kevin McGuff said. “I’m really happy for them to get a chance to experience this in general. But then to get a win and be able to move on to the second round is really special.”
Missouri State (25-8) had to defeat Florida State in a First Four game to advance to play Ohio State, and the Buckeyes looked jittery at the start. The game was played at 11th-seeded Missouri State’s pace. The Bears allow fewer than 54 points per game. The Buckeyes, who last played two weeks ago, score nearly 80.
“Credit them,” Sheldon said. “They’re a great defensive team. It came down to us playing hard as well. We stuck together and that’s what won us the game.”
Ohio State trailed 50-46 after missing its first six shots of the fourth quarter. A layup by Sheldon gave Ohio State a 51-50 lead with just under 4 minutes left. Taylor Mikesell hit a 3-pointer for a 54-52 advantage a minute later, and the Buckeyes maintained the lead the rest of the way.
Sheldon made a layup with 30 seconds left and two free throws with 15 seconds left to seal the win. Mikesell finished with 14 points. Sheldon also had six rebounds, five steals and five assists.
