While the windchill made it feel subzero outside on Sunday in Central Ohio, No. 21 Ohio State women’s basketball (9-1) stayed hot to win its seventh-straight game thanks to a 19-point performance by guard Kennedy Cambridge. This time, against the Toledo Rockets (3-5) of the Mid-American Conference in a 85-60 Buckeye victory.
First Quarter
For the third game in a row, the Buckeyes started on the wrong foot. Ohio State’s offense continued to struggle for anyone without Cambridge on the back of their jersey. The Buckeyes shot 7-of-18 from the floor and had fix more shots than the visiting Toledo.
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Even so, the Rockets only missed four of their first 12 attempts and the two Ohio-based universities traded the lead 11 times in the first 10 minutes. In Ohio State’s previous five home games this season, the Buckeyes and their opponents combined for eight total lead changes, and three nonconference games at the Schottenstein Center were wire-to-wire wins for the Buckeyes.
Second Quarter
Ohio State went on an 11-point early to start the quarter and built up a six-point lead. It was defense that let the Buckeyes build the lead thanks to 10 forced turnovers. The Buckeyes only allowed two total shots from the Rockets in the game-shifting run.
Also, forward Ella Hobbs entered the game for some of the redshirt freshman’s most important minutes of the season. Usually, the forward does not enter the game until the fourth quarter, when the game is out of hand in either direction. Hobbs played half of the second quarter and had three rebounds (two offensive rebounds) and two points.
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Toledo tied the game twice, but the added height from Hobbs and forward Kylee Kitts was a difference maker late in the quarter. Kitts, who started but went to the bench early with a disjointed first quarter for the redshirt freshman, came back in for the second and made a late impact with a steal and second chance basket in the final six seconds.
Third Quarter
The Rockets came out of the locker room and adjusted to the Ohio State pressure, at least to start the quarter. Toledo had only two turnovers for over half of the quarter, but the Buckeyes responded and forced six in the final 4:20 of the period.
Once the turnovers went Ohio State’s way, it went on a nine-point run, with six points coming off turnovers. Guard Kennedy Cambridge had four of the nine points.
Fourth Quarter
As is the story of the season so far, Ohio State stretched the lead out to a respectable gap in the fourth quarter for a ranked power conference side against an unranked midmajor. Toledo went 2-of-9 to start the quarter while it gave the ball away six times in the first five minutes of the final quarter.
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It made for a comfortable victory for the Buckeyes. With just under four minutes remaining, each side took out their starters to run the game to the final buzzer.
Number of the Game: 23
Known for defensive contributions, Kennedy Cambridge was more effective on the offensive end of the court on Sunday. The No. 23 represents a new career high for the guard in points in a game. On Feb. 17, 2025, Kennedy Cambridge had her previous career high with 18 points against the Iowa Hawkeyes.
On Sunday, Kennedy Cambridge did her work inside the paint with 18 of those points coming inside the paint.
Key Performers
Ohio State
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Kennedy Cambridge: 23 points, 4 steals
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Jaloni Cambridge: 12 points, 8 assists, 4 steals
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Toledo
Up Next
The Buckeyes have two more nonconference games this year and the first comes Thursday against the Norfolk State Spartains. It is the second time the two teams play in program histories. The first time came four years in an 86-48 victory for Ohio State.
It is the fourth power conference opponent for the Spartans this season. The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference program lost to ranked Ole Miss and Iowa State teams, along with a defeat to the Duke Blue Devils. All three defeats were by an average margin of 46 points.
