When was the last time Ohio State women lost in the NCAA Tournament first round?

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When was the last time Ohio State women lost in the NCAA Tournament first round?

Brianna Mac Kay, Columbus Dispatch · The Columbus Dispatch

Sat, Mar 21, 2026 ·

2 min read

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Michigan Wolverines head coach Kim Barnes Arico yells as guard Brooke Q. Daniels (5) saves the ball in front of Ohio State Buckeyes guard Jaloni Cambridge (22) during the NCAA women's basketball game at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on Feb. 25, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)

Ohio State Buckeyes guard Chance Gray (2) drives around Michigan Wolverines guard Brooke Q. Daniels (5) during the NCAA women's basketball game at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on Feb. 25, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)

Michigan Wolverines forward Ashley Sofilkanich (15) and Ohio State Buckeyes guard Kennedy Cambridge (3) react during the NCAA women's basketball game at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on Feb. 25, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)

Ohio State Buckeyes center Elsa Lemmilä (12) fights for a rebound with Michigan Wolverines guard Te'yala Delfosse (33) during the NCAA women's basketball game at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on Feb. 25, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)

Ohio State Buckeyes guard Jaloni Cambridge (22) shoots over Michigan Wolverines guard Olivia Olson (1) during the NCAA women's basketball game at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on Feb. 25, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)

Michigan Wolverines guard Mila Holloway (3) fouls Ohio State Buckeyes guard Jaloni Cambridge (22) during the NCAA women's basketball game at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on Feb. 25, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)

Ohio State Buckeyes forward Kylee Kitts (1) sghoots over Michigan Wolverines guard Syla Swords (12) during the NCAA women's basketball game at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on Feb. 25, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)

Ohio State Buckeyes guard Jaloni Cambridge (22) passes around Michigan Wolverines forward Ashley Sofilkanich (15) during the NCAA women's basketball game at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on Feb. 25, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)

Ohio State Buckeyes guard Chance Gray (2) shoots a three pointer over Michigan Wolverines guard Olivia Olson (1) during the NCAA women's basketball game at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on Feb. 25, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)

Ohio State Buckeyes guard Chance Gray (2) celebrates a three pointer during the NCAA women's basketball game against the Michigan Wolverines at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on Feb. 25, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)

Ohio State Buckeyes guard Chance Gray (2) dribbles around Michigan Wolverines guard Olivia Olson (1) during the NCAA women's basketball game at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on Feb. 25, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)

Ohio State Buckeyes guard Jaloni Cambridge (22) dribbles around Michigan Wolverines guard Mila Holloway (3) during the NCAA women's basketball game at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on Feb. 25, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)

Ohio State Buckeyes guard Chance Gray (2) drives past Michigan Wolverines guard Syla Swords (12) during the NCAA women's basketball game at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on Feb. 25, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)

Ohio State Buckeyes center Elsa Lemmilä (12) looks to pass in front of Michigan Wolverines guard Olivia Olson (1) during the NCAA women's basketball game at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on Feb. 25, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)

Ohio State Buckeyes guard Kennedy Cambridge (3) shots during the NCAA women's basketball game against the Michigan Wolverines at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on Feb. 25, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)

Ohio State Buckeyes guard Jaloni Cambridge (22) reacts to a shot at the end of the first half during the NCAA women's basketball game against the Michigan Wolverines at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on Feb. 25, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)

Since Kevin McGuff took over the program in 2013, Ohio State women's basketball has never been eliminated in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

The Buckeyes are making their ninth tournament appearance under McGuff as the No. 3 seed in the Fort Worth 1 region after going 24-6 in the regular season and reaching the Big Ten Tournament's semifinals. To keep the first-round winning streak alive, Ohio State will have to defeat No. 14 seed Howard , the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference champions.

Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Kevin McGuff watches his players in the first half of the NCAA basketball game against the Norfolk State Spartans at Value City Arena on Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025 in Columbus, Ohio.

McGuff was hired from Washington following the firing of Jim Foster.

The furthest McGuff has taken Ohio State in the postseason was to the Elite Eight in 2023. Entering the tournament as the No. 3 seed, the Buckeyes stunned No. 2 seed UConn 73-61 in the Sweet 16, before falling to No. 1 seed Virginia Tech 84-74.

Ohio State has failed to return to the Sweet 16 the past two tournaments, despite being a top-four seed, losing in upsets to Duke and Tennessee in the second round.

More: Chance Gray wants to get Ohio State 'out of Columbus' in women's NCAA Tournament

When was Ohio State last eliminated in the NCAA Tournament's first round?

During Foster's last tournament appearance with Ohio State in 2012, the No. 8 seed Buckeyes were knocked out in the first round by No. 9 seed Florida.

The Gators defeated the Buckeyes 70-65 after future WNBA first-round draft pick Samantha Prahalis failed to score a basket in the second half.

The following season, Ohio State missed the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 10 years, finishing with an 18-13 record. Foster was fired during the offseason, putting an end to his 11-year stint in Columbus.

bmackay@dispatch.com

@brimackay15

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: When was the last time Ohio State women were eliminated in NCAA Tournament first round?