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How Cotie McMahon leaving Ohio State opens the door for the Cambridge sisters
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- How Cotie McMahon leaving Ohio State opens the door for the Cambridge sisters
The possible transfer of Cotie McMahon marks the end of an era for Ohio State women's basketball.
Following the end of the 2024-25 season, McMahon was lined up to be the last player remaining on the roster who contributed to Ohio State reaching the Elite Eight in the 2023 NCAA Tournament.
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That run marked the furthest Ohio State has gone in the tournament since 1993. The Buckeyes have failed to find that same success since then.
More on Cotie McMahon : Ohio State leading scorer Cotie McMahon enters transfer portal
Instead, the past two seasons have ended with eliminations in the NCAA Tournament's second round on their home court, the latest being an 82-67 loss to No. 5 seed Tennessee as a No. 4 seed on March 23.
Ohio State forward Cotie McMahon reacts during the Buckeyes' second-round NCAA Tournament loss to Tennessee.
"I'm very frustrated, simple as that," McMahon said following what is likely her final game as a Buckeye.
McMahon subsequently entered the transfer portal, which puts Ohio State at eight players for the 2025-26 season. Only five of those players were active this season.
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Four players − Taylor Thierry , Eboni Walker, Madison Greene and Ajae Petty − have finished their eligibility.
"The biggest thing is we're losing some great kids," Ohio State coach Kevin McGuff said. "Just really high-character young women who are going to go on to do great things in life, but hopefully we can add a few people that bring the same type of competitive character that people like Taylor and Madison have brought."
Center Faith Carson was the first Buckeye to enter the portal , announcing her departure the very day the portal opened.
Which current Buckeyes will be expected to step up with Cotie McMahon's departure?
No player currently on the Buckeyes' roster plays the game the same way as McMahon.
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A 6-foot forward, McMahon was known for her ability to power her way to the basket. She added an improved jump shot to her repertoire this season , with her average going from 23% to 37.4% on 3-point shots.
When McMahon was sidelined for four games during the regular season with a lower-leg injury, Kennedy Cambridge slotted into the starting lineup.
Ohio State 's Kennedy Cambridge defends Washington's Sayvia Sellers on Feb. 2.
A redshirt sophomore who transferred from Kentucky in 2023 , Cambridge admitted that her game is very different from McMahon's, especially on offense. While McMahon contributed a team-leading 16.5 points per game this season, Cambridge averaged just 4.8 from off the bench.
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"Cotie can go out there, score 30 point-games," Cambridge said. "That's not going to happen for me. I'm realistic with myself. I know that I can help my team by doing the dirty work, by playing defense, by getting people open, by making the easy plays."
Offensively, the Buckeyes' second-best producer was Kennedy's younger sister, freshman point guard Jaloni Cambridge.
Jaloni Cambridge entered the program as a No. 2 recruit from the Class of 2024 , and was already the starting point guard in the season-opener against Cleveland State . She scored 31 in her debut and finished the season averaging 15.4 points and two steals, earning Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors.
Ohio State's Cotie McMahon (32) dances with Jaloni Cambridge during a timeout in the game against Washington on Feb. 2.
In the loss to Tennessee , Jaloni Cambridge recorded a team-high 19 points and led the Buckeyes' 16-0 run to come back from a 17-point deficit in the third quarter.
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The freshman was also responsible for eight of the 23 turnovers.
"Jaloni's very talented," McGuff said. "This is one of the first times we've seen this type of pressure ... and she got sped up a little bit, but we were trying to get people around her, just to get her making simple plays."
McGuff has until April 22 to recruit players from the transfer portal. He has gotten at least two transfers for the past three seasons.
But it is Jaloni Cambridge who is expected to be Ohio State's top producer next season, especially with an offseason to build on her successful freshman campaign.
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"Just being more consistent," Jaloni Cambridge said. "Having more fight, having more energy, just coming together and playing together. ... I'm just excited to be coming back next year."
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Who will step up for Ohio State women without Cotie McMahon
