Buckeyes’ Fourth Quarter Surge Secures Win Against Trojans

Sunday, February 22

Columbus, Ohio

2:00 PM

Ohio State

23-5,12-4Big Ten

USC

17-10,9-7Big Ten

Southern California

Ohio St.

Photo by: Ohio State Athletics

Buckeyes’ Fourth Quarter Surge Secures Win Against Trojans

2/22/2026 6:18:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Photo Gallery

All five Buckeye starters scored in double figures in the 88-83 win on Sunday afternoon.

Quotes | Notes

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The No. 10/10 Ohio State women's basketball team (23-5, 12-4 B1G) earned an 88-83 win against USC (17-10, 9-7 B1G) in Sunday afternoon's senior game.

Ohio State held a lead throughout the first quarter until back-to-back USC three-pointers gave the Trojans their first lead of the game, 20-19, after 10 minutes of play. Each team put together a run and held the lead in the second quarter, but the Trojans scored the final four points of the quarter to take a 38-35 lead into halftime. USC led by a 64-61 margin after 30 minutes as each team scored 26 points in the third quarter. The Buckeyes used a 15-0 run in the fourth quarter to take control of the game and held off the Trojans' late push to capture the win.

Jaloni Cambridge was the first Buckeye in double figures and finished with a game-high 33 points, her fifth 30-point performance of the season. Kennedy Cambridge (14), Chance Gray (16), Ava Watson (10) and Elsa Lemmilä (10) joined J. Cambridge in double figures as all five Buckeye starters scored at least 10 points apiece. Elsa Lemmilä added a game-high 10 rebounds for her third double-double of the season.

Quarter-by-Quarter Recap

Q1: Ohio State made its first three field goal attempts to take a 6-0 lead after two minutes of play. USC evened the score, but back-to-back Buckeye baskets had the home team in front by a 13-8 margin midway through the quarter. Ohio State led by as many as six points before a 5-0 Trojans run got them within one at 15-14 with three minutes remaining in the frame. The Trojans took their first lead of the game, 20-19, at the end of the quarter following back-to-back three-pointers.
Q2: The Buckeyes opened the quarter with a 6-2 run to take a 25-22 lead, but the Trojans responded with the next 10 points to lead by a 32-25 margin with 5:51 to play before halftime. Ohio State evened the score at 32 with a 7-0 run and took the lead back on a three-pointer from Ava Watson with two minutes remaining. USC scored the final four points of the quarter to take a 38-35 lead into the locker room.
Q3: Lemmilä began scoring in the third quarter. K. Cambridge scored the next eight points for the Buckeyes to take a 45-43 lead with 6:43 to play in the third on an old-fashioned three-point play. USC responded with a 6-1 run to lead 49-46 midway through the quarter. A three-point play from J. Cambridge gave the Buckeyes a 52-51 lead before the Trojans regained the lead. USC held the 64-61 advantage after 30 minutes.
Q4: Ohio State's offense put together a 15-0 run to take a 76-65 lead with 4:26 to play and led by as many as 13 points at 79-66 with just under three minutes remaining. The Buckeye defense did not allow a basket in the first 7:42 of the quarter. The Trojans scored the next seven points on the floor to trim their deficit to 79-73 before the teams alternated scoring. USC got as close as three points at 86-83 after a pair of triples but J. Cambridge ended the game at the charity stripe as Ohio State earned the 88-83 win.

Up Next

Ohio State hosts No. 6/5 Michigan on Wednesday in the heart health game. Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET and broadcast live on Peacock and AM1460.

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