No. 12 Ohio State women’s basketball (18-2) defeated Indiana (11-9) 81-67 at The Schottenstein Center on Jan. 22, but had to battle until the fourth quarter before taking control of the game.
Indiana was searching for its first Big Ten win against Ohio State after going 0-7 in conference play this season.
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A 5-for-6 start from the 3-point line gave the Hoosiers a 19-4 edge just over halfway through the first quarter, forcing the Buckeyes to play from behind until the 3:34 mark in the third quarter.
The Buckeyes had multiple runs in the first half that enabled them to cut down the Hoosiers’ lead to as little as three points, but Ohio State still went into halftime down 42-32.
“We kept telling ourselves that we were not going to be their first win in this conference,” Ohio State guard Kennedy Cambridge said. “And we’re not going to keep giving them what they were getting. So, I think that’s what set us apart in that second half.”
Ohio State Buckeyes guard Kennedy Cambridge (3) celebrates in the second half of the NCAA basketball game at Value City Arena on Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026 in Columbus, Ohio.
In the third quarter, Ohio State’s defense helped key a comeback.
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Down 47-44 with 3:53 remaining in the quarter, Cambridge stole the ball from Indiana’s Maya Makalusky and helped quickly connect with her sister Jaloni Cambridge, who hit a 3-point basket to tie the game.
Kennedy Cambridge has been the Buckeyes’ best defensive player this season, averaging 4.1 steals per game, which is second in the country. Against Indiana, she had six steals and turned her defense into offense, matching Chance Gray with 13 points.
Freshman Bryn Martin scored a fast-break layup off a steal on the next play to give Ohio State its first advantage of the game, 49-47. The Buckeyes held onto that lead until the final buzzer.
“It was important, getting them out of their rhythm,” Ohio State guard Ava Watson said. “Obviously, they were having some trouble getting past half court, getting the ball up the court. … So, I think it’s just really important for us to just keep playing fast and being aggressive.”
Ohio State Buckeyes guard Bryn Martin (8) goes in for a layup in the first half of the NCAA basketball game at Value City Arena on Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026 in Columbus, Ohio.
During the first half, Indiana outshot Ohio State 9-3 from behind the 3-point line and capitalized down low by outrebounding the Buckeyes 17-10. Indiana entered the game ranked last in the Big Ten in rebounding, averaging 32.2 per game.
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The Buckeyes’ struggles on the boards were due in part to starter Kylee Kitts being ruled out with a shoulder injury.
The redshirt freshman, who averages 9.3 points and 7.1 rebounds, left Ohio State’s game against No. 9 TCU in the fourth quarter after appearing to hurt her shoulder while going for a dead ball.
“She could have went tonight,” Ohio State coach Kevin McGuff said. “She’ll probably be day-to-day for a while. So, we’ll see.”
McGuff opted for a shorter starting lineup without six-foot-four Kitts, replacing her with five-foot-eight Watson.
Ohio State Buckeyes guard Ava Watson (5) attempts to steal the ball from Indiana Hoosiers guard Nevaeh Caffey (2) in the second half of the NCAA basketball game at Value City Arena on Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026 in Columbus, Ohio. A foul was called on the play.
In her first start in college, Watson, a sophomore, put together 12 points and six steals against Indiana.
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Center Elsa Lemmila took on a majority of Ohio State’s load underneath, making an impact by finishing with 10 points, six rebounds and a block. However, Lemmila’s time on the court in the second half was limited after she ran into foul trouble. She picked up her fourth foul at the 4:22 mark in the third quarter.
“There’s always going to be a couple of fouls we’re not sure about, maybe you have a disagreement with,” McGuff said. “But we had some really unnecessary ones that I thought we could have controlled tonight, and with Kylee out, that really puts us in a vulnerable position.”
More: OSU’s Elsa Lemmila continues finding confidence following 2 surgeries
Ohio State and Indiana combined for 39 fouls.
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The Buckeyes go back on the road to face No. 10 Iowa on Jan. 25, with tipoff set for 2 p.m.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio State women’s basketball picks up win vs Indiana in Big Ten play
