Women’s Basketball: Ohio State hosts Morehead State in first round of WNIT

Brian Nelson
Wed, 20 Mar 2019 03:20:00 +0000
Basketball, News, Sports, Women's Basketball, Adreana Miller, Buckeyes, buckeyes basketball, Buckeyes women’s basketball, Carly Santoro. Janai Crooms, Carmen Grande, Dorkha Juhasz, featured, Jensen Caretti, Karlie Cronin, Kevin McGuff, Makayla waterman, NIT, NIT tournament, NIT women's basketball tournament, ohio state, ohio state basketball, Ohio State women's basketball, Ohio State women's basketball roster, ohio state women's basketball schedule, Ohio State women's basketball score, osu, OSU basketball, Osu women’s basketball, Savitha Jayaraman, Womens basketball

The Ohio State bench celebrates Janai Crooms’ and-one basket in the second half of the game against Rutgers on March 3. Ohio State lost 66-56. Credit: Casey Cascaldo | Photo Editor

After losing to Wisconsin 73-63 in the Big Ten tournament, the Ohio State women’s basketball team finished the season with a 14-14 record.

As a result, Ohio State failed to qualify for the women’s NCAA tournament.

Instead, being the highest-ranked Big Ten seed to not reach the big dance, the Buckeyes earned an automatic bid to the women’s NIT tournament, where they will take on Morehead State.

History favors Ohio State in both this game and the entire tournament. This will be the second appearance for the Buckeyes in the WNIT. Their only other appearance was in 2001, when Ohio State won it all, taking down New Mexico 62-61.

The past two WNITs were won by two other Big Ten schools, with Indiana winning in the previous season and Michigan in 2017.

Projected Starters

Ohio State (14-14, 10-8 Big Ten)

G — Carly Santoro — Redshirt senior, 11.5 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 1.2 apg

G — Carmen Grande — Redshirt senior, 8.4 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 5.0 apg

G — Janai Crooms — Freshman, 8.6 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 2.1 apg

F — Dorka Juhasz — Freshman, 11.6 ppg, 8.9 rpg, 0.9 apg

F — Makayla Waterman — Redshirt senior, 7.8 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 1.8 apg

Morehead State (23-10, 13-5 Ohio Valley).

G — Miranda Crockett — Senior, 18.4 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 1.7 apg

G — Darianne Seward — Redshirt senior, 9.2 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 3.0 apg

G — Crystal Simmons-Cozar — Redshirt senior, 6.5 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 3.6 apg

F — McKenzie Calvert — Redshirt senior, 12.9 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 3.1 apg

F — Tierra McGowan — Senior, 6.5 ppg, 9.0 rpg, 0.4 apg

Ohio State’s biggest concern will be finding ways to become consistent. Heading into the final few games of the season, the Buckeyes were riding a four-game winning streak that featured wins against Rutgers, a team that made the NCAA tournament, and two wins against Wisconsin.

During its final regular season game and its matchup against the Badgers in the Big Ten tournament, Ohio State unraveled late. The Buckeyes recorded 30 turnovers, allowing the Scarlet Knights to come back in the second half. Against Wisconsin, the Buckeyes were unable to find the basket and the Badgers thrived from 3.

If Ohio State wants to bounce back and have a chance at winning, it will need to find a way to control the game in the second half.

For Morehead State, the main threats the Buckeyes will have to watch out for are senior guard Miranda Crockett and redshirt senior forward McKenzie Calvert. Both are averaging double digits in points for the season and, with three players from the Eagles’ starting five having more than 100 assists on the season, plenty of playmakers will be on the court in Columbus Wednesday night.

In addition, Simmons-Cozar is the Eagles’ biggest threat from the 3-point line. She is shooting 36 percent from deep on 72 attempts.

Being the better seed, the Buckeyes do have the advantage of playing at the Schottenstein Center. Over the season, Ohio State holds a 9-5 home record.

Ohio State will take on Morehead State at 7:00 p.m. Thursday at the Schottenstein Center.