It was a showdown in East Lansing that solidified No. 5 Ohio State's top spot in the Big Ten, as the Buckeyes steamrolled Michigan State with an 86-71 victory on Sunday. Ohio State, standing tall at 21-3 overall, and now 12-1 in conference play, took their 11th straight win and left no questions about their dominance in the league.
Celeste Taylor was the star player of the game, throwing down 20 points to spearhead the charge for the Buckeyes. She wasn't alone in the double-digit club, as Rebeka Mikulasikova netted 19 points, Jacy Sheldon contributed 18, and Taylor Thierry added 12. The victory wasn't just a testament to individual brilliance – the entire team showed up, with Ohio State combining for a season-high 28 assists, according to Ohio State Buckeyes official stats.
The Spartans experienced the crushing weight of the Buckeyes' might early on, trailing by a staggering 22 points at halftime. Despite the home-court advantage, Michigan State could only once claim a lead, when Theryn Hallock completed a three-point play, as reported by CBS News Detroit. From there, Ohio State's relentless pressure cooked up an 8-1 run to start the second half, putting the game on ice well before the final buzzer.
"It was a total stinker," Michigan State coach Robin Fralick confessed, in a statement that echoes her team’s frustration. Ohio State's coach Kevin McGuff, on the other hand, praised his team's performance, stating, "I just thought our offensive execution went to another level, and we really got a lot of great shots during that stretch," in a conversation with CBS News Detroit. With such a commanding rout, even the Buckeyes' bench got in on the action, chipping in 11 points in the first half, further highlighting the depth of talent at Ohio State's disposal.
Aside from jostling the standings in the Big Ten, Ohio State could climb even higher in the national polls following losses by No. 2 Iowa, No. 3 N.C. State, and No. 4 Colorado. "Already ranked fifth in the AP Top 25, Ohio State could now be poised to rise to as high as second in the AP poll", elevenwarriors highlighted. Michigan State, meanwhile, faces the prospect of dropping out of the rankings after a week they'd rather forget.
Looking ahead, the Buckeyes are set to host Nebraska on Wednesday, hoping to extend their winning streak, whereas Michigan State will seek redemption in their next clash against Michigan, as CBS News Detroit reports. The stakes are high, but for now, Ohio State can savor a victory that echoes through the standings and shakes up the rankings.
