Four Buckeyes scored in double-figures as Ohio State outlasted Indiana 78-70 Sunday afternoon at Value City Arena.
In front of a season-high 7,639 fans on Pink Day in Columbus, Ohio State (16-8, 8-4) turned a one-point halftime edge into a double-digit lead seven minutes into the second half and held that advantage the rest of the way.
Freshman Kelsey Mitchell and Ameryst Alston each scored a game-high 24 points. Mitchell made six three-pointers to retake the lead nationally with 91 on the year. Alston tied a season-high with six assists and also pulled-down eight rebounds.
Freshman Alexa Hart was 8-of-10 from floor and finished with 18 points and eight rebounds while Cait Craft scored in double-figures for the first time in nearly a month as she finished with 10 points and three assists.
Indiana had five players in double-figures led by Karlee McBride with 15 points. Alexa Gassion notched a double-double with 14 points and 11 boards.
The first half was a back-and-forth tussle as the Hoosiers kept pace with seven three-pointers in the opening 20 minutes. The Buckeyes did most of their damage in the first half inside the arc as they were 11-of-15 on two-point field goals and just 3-of-14 from deep. That shooting allowed the Hoosier to stay close as it was a 35-34 OSU lead at the break.
In the second half, the Ohio State defense pressed forward and limited IU’s perimeter threat. Mitchell’s second three-pointer of the half gave the Buckeyes a 50-39 lead with just over 13 minutes to play. Indiana countered with an 8-2 run to knife into the lead but Alston scored five of the next nine Buckeye points to push the lead back to 59-47 with six minutes to go.
Unlike last Thursday in Iowa when the Buckeyes made just one field goal over the final five minutes of the game, OSU was a perfect 5-of-5 from the floor and 6-of-8 from the line in the last four minutes on Sunday.
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