No. 7/6 Ohio State(1-1;0-0) vs. Cleveland State(1-0;0-0)
Date: November 16, 2016
Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
Arena: Value City Arena – Columbus, Ohio
Watch: BTN2Go Listen: 1460 AM
Ohio State
The Buckeyes are coming off a tough loss to number 4/3 South Carolina that saw four Buckeyes hit the double-digit column in scoring. Kelsey Mitchell led the charge with 27 points and crossed the 1800 point career plateau, placing her ninth overall on the all-time scoring list.
Her assault on the OSU record book will probably see her set a new mark for career threes made, as she needs just 12 more treys to do so. Teammates Sierra Calhoun(15.5), Shayla Cooper(13.5) and Stephanie Mavunga(13.0) are also averaging in double figures.
Mavunga accomplished her 28th career double-double against Duquesne (15 pts/14 Rbd) last Friday.
Cleveland State
The Vikings are coming off an opening season win over Evansville(66-62) and feature the Horizon League Freshman of the year from last season in Ashanti Abshaw. She averaged 16.6 ppg and 9.6 rpg for them last season and stands to be a handful for the Buckeyes. She will be joined by three other returning starters from a 6-20 team a year ago. Khayla Livingston (11.3 ppg, 3.0 apg), Olivia Voskuhl (10.1 ppg, 6.2 rpg) and Shadae Bosley (4.4 rpg, 1.2 bpg) will be a big help this season as will returning seniors Chrishna Butler and Alexis Eckles.
Outlook
The Buckeyes need to continue to figure things out offensively and defensively. It is early in a very long season and they have what it takes to be contenders. Defensively they will have to follow the spark that’s provided by Stephanie Mavunga (5 blocks to date) and Shayla Cooper. They will have to be mindful of last years Horizon League leader from behind the arc in Khayla Livingston(60-143 in 2015-16) and Ashanti Abshaw the teams leading scorer to win tonight.
The Buckeyes lead the all-time series 5 to 0 and this is the first time they have met since 2008, a 68-54 win at home.
The Buckeyes do not get much of a break this week and have LIU Brooklyn at home on Saturday in Value City Arena with a noon tip.
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