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No. 11 Ohio State women's basketball defeats Wisconsin: 3 takeaways
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- No. 11 Ohio State women's basketball defeats Wisconsin: 3 takeaways
The 11th-ranked Ohio State women's basketball team (19-3) rallied from a first-quarter deficit to defeat Wisconsin (13-9) 81-58 at The Schottenstein Center on Jan. 29.
Here are three takeaways from the game:
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3-point defense puts Ohio State in a hole vs Wisconsin
In the past three games, the Buckeyes' opponents have shot 49.2% from beyond the arc, hitting 31 3-pointers. The 10.4 allowed 3-pointers per game during the stretch is a four-basket increase from Ohio State's season average.
Ohio State guard Jaloni Cambridge reacts as Wisconsin celebrates in the first half on Jan. 29.
Wisconsin opened the game making five of seven 3-pointers to pull ahead 23-17.
The Buckeyes knew that guard Destiny Howell ranks eighth in the Big Ten with 2.4 3-pointers made per game. Howell still exceeded that number, scoring 15 of her 29 points from beyond the 3-point line.
More: No. 11 Ohio State women outlast Wisconsin despite rough first half
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After a 91-70 loss to No. 8 Iowa on Jan. 29, center Elsa Lemmila was vocal about the lack of communication being the reason Ohio State's perimeter coverage struggled. Guard Kennedy Cambridge reiterated the message following the Wisconsin game.
The Wisconsin bench celebrates after a teammate made a 3-point shot against Ohio State on Jan. 29.
Ohio State's press continues to be key to success
While the Buckeyes had trouble defending the 3-point shot, their full-court press and man-to-man defense contained the Badgers, setting up the comeback.
Ohio State held Wisconsin to five points in the second quarter but led by only one point going into halftime, 29-28. The Buckeyes scored just seven points off 14 forced first-half turnovers.
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In the second half, Ohio State began to capitalize on its defensive stops and finished with 22 points off 25 Wisconsin turnovers.
Ohio State guard Ava Watson (5) steals the ball from Wisconsin on Jan. 29.
Guard Ava Watson , who made her third start with forward Kylee Kitts sidelined, grabbed four of Ohio State's eight steals.
Kylee Kitts inching closer to return for Ohio State
The Buckeyes have been without Kitts since a 71-69 win over No. 12 TCU on Jan. 19, when she suffered a shoulder injury.
Ohio State center Elsa Lemmilä shoots against Wisconsin on Jan. 29.
Coach Kevin McGuff said Kitts is questionable for Ohio State's game against Nebraska on Feb. 1 but that the redshirt freshman is getting "closer" to a return.
Kitts contributes 9.3 points per game and a team-leading 7.1 rebounds.
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More: OSU women's basketball is 'playing small ball' without Kylee Kitts
The absence of Kitts has put the bulk of Ohio State's post play on Lemmila's shoulders. Against Wisconsin, Lemmila recorded her second double-double of the season with 14 points and a career-high 14 rebounds.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: 3 takeaways from Ohio State women's basketball defeating Wisconsin
