No. 10 Ohio State returned to Value City Arena for the first time since Dec. 17 to face Northwestern on Sunday and defeated the Wildcats 92-62.
Freshman Jaloni Cambridge was the team-high scorer against the Wildcats, recording 20 points less than a month removed from a shoulder injury that kept her sidelined for three games.
On Dec. 10, Cambridge went up for a layup in the second half of the Buckeyes’ matchup against Ball State and fell hard on her right shoulder. Cambridge returned to action on the road against Rutgers on Dec. 29, but finished with just 2 points.
Cotie McMahon was right behind Cambridge in scoring against Northwestern with 16 points. The junior has led the Buckeyes in scoring in their previous two games and is Ohio State’s top scorer of the season, averaging 18 points going into Sunday’s matchup.
The Buckeyes opened the game on a 7-0 run, forcing Northwestern into four turnovers in as many possessions before the Wildcats called a timeout early in the first quarter.
Coming out of the timeout with 8:21 remaining in the quarter, the Wildcats was able to cut the Buckeyes lead to 1 point with three consecutive baskets in under a minute of play.
Behind the efforts of McMahon, who recorded 10 points in the first quarter, the Buckeyes built back the distance between themselves and the Wildcats, 27-17.
Watson added 6 points off two 3-pointers in the first quarter and recorded 15 points overall with every basket coming from beyond the arc.
Ohio State’s 3-point game has been led by Watson and Gray all season. In the second quarter, Gray was the shooting threat that helped extend the Buckeyes’ advantage to 53-34 by halftime.
Of the Buckeyes 26 points scored in the second quarter, Gray recorded 10 and Cambridge put up 7.
Cambridge’s momentum bleed into the second half. In the addition of her shooting contributions, the freshman finished the game with 6 rebounds and 2 steals and was substituted out for the final time at the 3:42 mark in the third quarter.
More: Madison Greene reflects on possible ‘last season playing basketball’ with Ohio State
The Buckeyes are 14-0 as they head on the road to face Big 10 rival Michigan on Wednesday, Jan 8. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio State women’s basketball beats Northwestern to remain undefeated
