The No. 3/4 Ohio State Buckeyes (14-0, 3-0 B1G) beat Northwestern (6-6, 0-2 B1G) on Wednesday night by an 81-48 margin.
Ohio State’s defense did not allow a field goal for the first five minutes of the first and second quarters, using a run of 11-0 in each quarter to build a 35-24 lead at halftime. The Buckeyes used a 24-point third quarter to pull away, leading 59-38 after 30 minutes. Ohio State capped scoring with a 22-10 fourth quarter.
Ohio State’s defense forced Northwestern to miss its first seven field goal attempts as the Buckeyes converted a trio of three-point plays to build a 13-2 lead midway through the opening quarter. Northwestern had the 11-5 scoring advantage to finish the quarter with OSU up 18-13.
Both teams started slowly in the second quarter, but a 7-0 run by Ohio State gave the Buckeyes a 25-15 lead with 5:20 remaining in the half. OSU extended its lead to 29-15, capping its run at 11-0. The teams traded baskets to end the half with the Buckeyes ahead by a 35-24 margin.
Ohio State scored the first seven points out of halftime to lead 42-24 with eight minutes to play in the third quarter. A triple from Taylor Mikesell sent the Buckeyes into the media timeout with a 47-31 lead. OSU extended its lead to 52-31 and led 59-38 after 30 minutes, despite the Wildcats scoring the final two baskets of the quarter.
The Buckeyes had the first two baskets in the fourth quarter and used a 13-0 run midway through the quarter to increase the lead to 77-46 with 2:46 to play. Hevynne Bristow capped scoring at 81-48 with a pair of free throws.