OSU sophomore guard Kelsey Mitchell (3) goes up for a shot during a game against Northwestern on Jan. 28 at the Schottenstein Center.Credit: Samantha Hollingshead | Photo Editor Tension was in the air at the Schottenstein Center as the No. 7 Ohio State (16-4, 8-1) women’s basketball team was in search of revenge on Northwestern (13-8, 2-7) after falling to the Wildcats two weeks prior to Thursday night’s contest. The visiting Wildcats came into Columbus attempting to pull off a regular-season sweep on the Buckeyes. The last time Northwestern was able to complete this feat was in 2011. But OSU kept it that way, forcing the series with the Wildcats to 1-1 after coming out on top 76-73. Both teams came into the game ready to battle, applying excessive pressure, forcing turnovers and pushing the ball up the floor in pursuit of easy buckets. The cylinder was not allowing the rock to connect with the nylon in the first quarter for the Buckeyes, as they struggled from the field. Northwestern gave OSU no choice but to make adjustments early so that it wouldn’t let the game slip away. The Wildcats played the first quarter with authority, and were able to stay poised against OSU’s full-court press to get quality shots in the paint. “We handled their pressure well,” Northwestern coach Joe McKeown said after the game. “We were able to get shots, get the ball inside out and attack them a little bit.” Northwestern followed junior forward Nia Coffey’s lead in the first half, as she put in 13 points to give the Wildcats a 34-30 lead at halftime…
Continue Reading: Second-half explosion by Kelsey Mitchell lifts Ohio State women’s basketball over Northwestern
