The No. 8 Ohio State women’s basketball team (20-2, 9-2) faced a tough challenge against the undefeated No. 1 UCLA Bruins (22-0, 10-0), ultimately falling 65-52. The Buckeyes fought hard but were unable to match the Bruins’ late-game surge, despite strong performances, including a 19-point, 14-rebound double-double from Lauren Betts.
The first half saw a tale of two different Ohio State teams. In the opening quarter, the Buckeyes’ defense stood strong, and their strategy to limit Betts’ influence paid off. Head coach Kevin McGuff opted for one-on-one defense with Ajae Petty and Elsa Lemmilä guarding the 6-foot-7 Betts, allowing them to prevent easy entry passes. Ohio State capitalized on eight forced turnovers, leading to an offensive run and a seven-point advantage.
However, the momentum shifted in the second quarter as Ohio State struggled offensively, going over six minutes without a basket. During this stretch, UCLA built an 11-point lead. Meanwhile, Ohio State’s defense faltered, allowing turnovers and making unforced errors that played into the Bruins’ hands. Petty’s defensive strategy against Betts also failed, as Betts dominated with six points during her time on the court.
McGuff adjusted by introducing Lemmilä, who contributed six points in the first half, all in the paint. Despite Lemmilä’s efforts, the rest of the team struggled offensively, with the Buckeyes shooting just 3-of-29 outside of Lemmilä’s contributions. At halftime, Ohio State trailed by six, though their defense had improved in the second quarter, holding UCLA to just 12 points.
Betts, however, continued to be a force, scoring 13 points and grabbing 10 rebounds in the first half alone.
The second half saw McGuff return to his starting lineup, but it wasn’t until nearly seven minutes into the third quarter that Lemmilä re-entered the game. While Petty continued to struggle, McMahon provided a spark, using her agility to score fast-break points, including a layup off a defensive rebound. The Buckeyes outscored UCLA 18-14 in the third quarter, narrowing the deficit to two points heading into the final period.
Early in the fourth quarter, Ohio State tied the game, but UCLA’s Kiki Rice quickly responded with four consecutive points. From there, Ohio State’s offense went cold, missing five straight shots, allowing UCLA to extend their lead to 13 points. Despite a late push by the Buckeyes, UCLA’s offense, led by Rice and Gabriela Jaquez (who scored 15 points, nine in the fourth), sealed the game with a 15-point run.
Jaloni Cambridge and Cotie McMahon led Ohio State’s scoring with 18 and 14 points, respectively, while Cambridge also contributed eight rebounds and six assists. Rice’s late-game heroics helped UCLA maintain their undefeated record.
Up next for Ohio State is a Saturday matchup against the No. 7 USC Trojans, who recently defeated Wisconsin 86-64. The last time the two teams met, USC defeated the Buckeyes 83-74 in Las Vegas, with JuJu Watkins leading the Trojans with 33 points in her NCAA debut.
