Ohio State Breaks Big Ten First Half Scoring Record in Bellarmine Win

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COLUMBUS, Ohio – The No. 21/24 Ohio State women’s basketball team (4-0) reached the century mark for the first time this season in a 110-58 win against Bellarmine (0-4) on Tuesday evening inside Value City Arena at the Schottenstein Center. The Buckeyes scored a program record 39 points in the second quarter. The Buckeyes broke the Big Ten records for most points in any half (70, previously 69) and most points in the first half (previously 68).

How it Happened

Jacy Sheldon scored first seven points of the game in the first 1:27 before Bellarmine got onto the scoreboard. Rebeka Mikulášiková scored the next nine points for the Buckeyes as OSU held the 16-4 lead with 6:26 to play in the opening frame. The Buckeyes led 21-7 at the media timeout. The Knights went on an 11-3 run, but the Buckeyes held the 31-21 lead at the quarter break.

The Knights cut the Buckeyes’ lead down to five points to begin the second quarter before a 6-0 OSU run bumped the lead back up to double figures, 39-28, with eight minutes to play in the half. After leading 41-33, Ohio State scored the next 29 points on the floor, holding Bellarmine scoreless for the final six minutes of the half to extend the lead to 70-33 going into the locker room.

Kateri Poole opened third-quarter scoring to surpass her previous season high. Sheldon set a new career-high with 31 points leading into the media timeout midway through the quarter as the Buckeyes doubled up, 82-41. Ohio State finished the quarter on a 13-3 run to lead 95-46 after 30 minutes.

The teams traded baskets leading into the fourth-quarter media timeout as the Buckeyes held the 103-53 advantage. Taylor Thierry scored five of the final seven OSU points as Ohio State earned the 110-58 victory.

Highlights

Q1: Rebeka Mikulášiková three-pointer

Q1: Steal, score (Kateri Poole to Taylor Mikesell)

Q1: Jacy Sheldon double figures

Q2: Kateri Poole and one

Q2: Taylor Thierry to Taylor Mikesell fast break

Q2: Taylor Mikesell halftime buzzer-beater

Q3: Jacy Sheldon career-high

Q4: Gabby Hutcherson driving layup

Q4: Gabby Hutcherson past 100

Game Notes

• Ohio State’s 70 first-half points broke the Big Ten records for most points in any half (previously 69) and most points in the first half (previously 68).
• The Buckeyes scored 39 points in the second quarter, the most in any second quarter in program history. This is also tied for the third-most points in any quarter in Big Ten history.
• OSU reached 100 points for the first time this season and the first time since Feb. 18, 2021 against Purdue.
• Ohio State’s 31 points in the first quarter was the Buckeyes’ most in a single quarter this season.
• The Buckeyes had five players in double figures for the first time this season.
• Jacy Sheldon began the game 4-of-4 from the floor and 2-of-2 from behind the arc as she had 12 points with 4:27 left on the first-quarter clock. She finished the game with a career-high 31 points.
• Taylor Mikesell has made four three-pointers in each of her games as a Buckeye, reaching the mark in the first half, shooting 4-of-6 from behind the arc going into the locker room. Mikesell finished with 18 points.
• Rebeka Mikulášiková reached double figures for the third-straight game, totaling 13 points.
• Kateri Poole reached double figures for the second-straight game, finishing with a season-high 12 points.
• Tanaya Beacham reached double figures for the first time this season, totaling 12 points.
• Q2: Ohio State’s defense held Bellarmine scoreless for the final six minutes of the half.
• H1: The Buckeyes shot 27-of-46 (.587) from the floor and 9-of-16 (.563) from behind the arc during the first half.
• H1: Ohio State forced 18 Bellarmine turnovers in the first half.
• Q3: The Buckeyes shot 10-of-14 (.714) from the floor.

What They Said

Ohio State Head Coach Kevin McGuff

On creating turnovers:

“In a perfect world, creating turnovers [is our ideal defense]. It’s also why we didn’t press in the second half, so we could work on our half-court defense.”

On Jacy Sheldon’s career-high:

“I thought she did a great job being balanced and shooting from the three and mid-range.”

On players stepping up:

“I thought that Taylor Thierry was really good, and you could see her athleticism. Rikki [Harris] had a couple charges but played hard. I thought Tanaya [Beacham] played really well in the second half and Gabby [Hutcherson] had some shots as well.”

On his message ahead of Saturday’s game and Big Ten play:

“We’ve just got to keep getting better. Saturday will be a really tough game. Cincinnati has a really good team – athletic, talented, well-coached. That will be a challenge for us. We have to continue to improve. I think our defense and rebounding has to keep getting better.”

Up Next

Ohio State is set to host Cincinnati on Saturday at the Covelli Center. Tip time is slated for 6 p.m. The game will be broadcast live on B1G+ (subscription required).

Tickets for the 2021-22 season in Value City Arena in the Schottenstein Center are now available. Fans can purchase season tickets and mini plans, single-game tickets and group tickets. All group tickets must be bought in advance by calling 1-800-GO-BUCKS and then selecting option two. Fans with ticketing questions should call the Ohio State Ticket Office at 1-800-GO-BUCKS or email athletic.tix@osu.edu.

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