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Cotie McMahon's free throws lift Ohio State past Iowa in Big Ten quarterfinal: Takeaways
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- Cotie McMahon's free throws lift Ohio State past Iowa in Big Ten quarterfinal: Takeaways
INDIANAPOLIS - Cotie McMahon drowned out the noise of the Iowa crowd as she stepped up to the free throw line with six seconds remaining in Ohio State's Big Ten Tournament matchup.
With the Buckeyes down one point, McMahon was more focused on making two consecutive free throws for the first time in the game.
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"I didn't really hear anything," McMahon said. "I was kind of cussing myself out, like if I miss these free throws, we're going home. So, I just made them."
McMahon hit both free throw attempts, which became the deciding factor in a 60-59 quarterfinal victory for No. 3 seed Ohio State over No. 9 Iowa. The Buckeyes face No. 2 UCLA at 5:30 p.m. Saturday in a semifinal.
Ohio State'sCotie McMahon (32) and Kennedy Cambridge celebrate after beating Iowa on March 7.
While McMahon finished as the Buckeyes' top scorer with 18 points, the junior struggled from the free throw line, going 1 for 2 in her two visits prior to scoring the game-winners.
Those struggles failed to change coach Kevin McGuff's opinion that McMahon was the best option in that moment after she got fouled by Iowa's Hannah Stuelke while trying to get to the basket.
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"In general, on the last play we want to get the ball in her hands," McGuff said. "Try to create some space for her to play in. And she made the right play, she got fouled, and at that point you've got to step up and put yourself in a position to make them, and she did."
Ohio State's defense held strong through final possession vs Iowa
Ohio State securing its victory on free throws failed to represent the action that took place for nearly the entire 40 minutes. The Buckeyes and Hawkeyes traded eight lead changes and spent over seven minutes tied.
With 48 seconds remaining, Ohio State had a turnover following an offensive foul against guard Jaloni Cambridge with Iowa leading 59-58.
Ohio State Buckeyes guard Chance Gray (21) guards Iowa Hawkeyes guard Kylie Feuerbach (4) on Friday, March 7, 2025, in a quarterfinals game at the 2025 TIAA Big Ten Women's Basketball Tournament between the Iowa Hawkeyes and the Ohio State Buckeyes at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The Buckeyes defeated the Hawkeyes, 60-59.
As the Hawkeyes got withing the final 10 seconds of the shot clock, the Buckeyes forced guard Kylie Feuerbach to take a 3-point opportunity on a night she finished 2 for 5 from the field.
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Feuerbach missed her attempt and Taylor Thierry grabbed the rebound, allowing Ohio State to set up the play for McMahon.
"Our defense kind of contributes to our offense," Thierry said. "We're just trying to guard the ball, not getting driven by really easily, just executing defensively, making it hard for them to score, boxing out, getting rebounds."
Thierry was Ohio State's top defender against Iowa, recording seven rebounds and five steals.
Ohio State shut down top Iowa scorer Lucy Olson at right time
McMahon was the most consistent offensive producer for Ohio State from the beginning to final seconds of the game, shooting 46.2% from the field on 13 shot attempts.
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In the first half, it seemed like guard Lucy Olson would be the main producer for the Hawkeyes, scoring 12 of their 28 points.
But Ohio State shut down Olson in the second half, holding her to 2 points on three shots.
"We were trying to get the ball out of her hand, if we could," McGuff said. "She's a great player, and she played extremely well against us the first time, but it's tough. I mean, she logged a lot of heavy minutes here for three games in three days, so we wanted to wear on her with full-court pressure."
Iowa Hawkeyes guard Lucy Olsen (33) goes up for a basket Friday, March 7, 2025, in a quarterfinals game at the 2025 TIAA Big Ten Women's Basketball Tournament between the Iowa Hawkeyes and the Ohio State Buckeyes at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The Buckeyes defeated the Hawkeyes, 60-59.
Rotation of post players
Forward Eboni Walker has averaged only 11 minutes per game. However, McGuff felt adding Walker into the usually two-player rotation of Aja Petty and Elsa Lemmila on the post was necessary against Iowa.
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"Their post players are really good, and I think you got to keep fresh bodies on them," McGuff said. "So a combination of Petty, Elsa and Eboni was kind of the formula, and that's why we were trying to sub them, to keep them fresh."
Ohio State Buckeyes guard Jaloni Cambridge (22) goes up for a basket against Iowa Hawkeyes forward Hannah Stuelke (45) on Friday, March 7, 2025, in a quarterfinals game at the 2025 TIAA Big Ten Women's Basketball Tournament between the Iowa Hawkeyes and the Ohio State Buckeyes at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The Buckeyes defeated the Hawkeyes, 60-59.
In Walker's seven minutes on the court, she recorded 4 points and two rebounds. Petty led the post players with 6 points and 12 rebounds.
Post play will be essential in the Buckeyes' semifinal matchup against No. 2 UCLA , which has 6-foot-7 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year Lauren Betts.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Big Ten Tournament: Ohio State defeats Iowa behind Cotie McMaho
