Ohio State women defeat Howard, advance to NCAA Tournament second round
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Ohio State women defeat Howard, advance to NCAA Tournament second round
Brianna Mac Kay, Columbus Dispatch·The Columbus Dispatch
·
2 min read
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No. 3 seedOhio Statewomen's basketball relied on its defense to rout No. 14 seedHoward75-54 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on March 21.
TheBuckeyesscored 20 points off Howard's 17 turnovers and finished with nine steals.
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Naismith Women's College Defensive Player of the Year semifinalist Kennedy Cambridge was one of fourBuckeyesto grab two steals.
The Ohio State Buckeyes prepare to take on the Howard Bison in the first round of the NCAA women's basketball tournament at the Jerome Schottenstein Center in Columbus on March 21, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)
Ohio State Buckeyes guard Jaloni Cambridge (22) warms up prior to the first round of the NCAA women's basketball tournament game against the Howard Bison at the Jerome Schottenstein Center in Columbus on March 21, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)
The Ohio State Buckeyes huddle prior to the first round of the NCAA women's basketball tournament game against the Howard Bison at the Jerome Schottenstein Center in Columbus on March 21, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)
Ohio State Buckeyes guard Jaloni Cambridge (22) is introduced prior to the first round of the NCAA women's basketball tournament game against the Howard Bison at the Jerome Schottenstein Center in Columbus on March 21, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)
Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Kevin McGuff watches during the first round of the NCAA women's basketball tournament game against the Howard Bison at the Jerome Schottenstein Center in Columbus on March 21, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)
Ohio State Buckeyes guard Jaloni Cambridge (22) dribbles up court against the Howard Bison during the first round of the NCAA women's basketball tournament at the Jerome Schottenstein Center in Columbus on March 21, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)
Howard Bison head coach Ty Grace talks to guard April Edwards (15) against the Ohio State Buckeyes during the first round of the NCAA women's basketball tournament at the Jerome Schottenstein Center in Columbus on March 21, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)
Ohio State Buckeyes guard Chance Gray (2) celebrates alongside guard T'yana Todd (4) during the first round of the NCAA women's basketball tournament game against the Howard Bison at the Jerome Schottenstein Center in Columbus on March 21, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)
Howard Bison forward Zennia Thomas (24) reacts during the first round of the NCAA women's basketball tournament against the Ohio State Buckeyes at the Jerome Schottenstein Center in Columbus on March 21, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)
Ohio State Buckeyes guard Jaloni Cambridge (22) celebrates during the first round of the NCAA women's basketball tournament against the Howard Bison at the Jerome Schottenstein Center in Columbus on March 21, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)
Ohio State Buckeyes center Elsa Lemmilä (12) blocks the shot of Howard Bison guard Ariella Henigan (4) during the first round of the NCAA women's basketball tournament at the Jerome Schottenstein Center in Columbus on March 21, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)
Ohio State Buckeyes fans celebrate during the first round of the NCAA women's basketball tournament against the Howard Bison at the Jerome Schottenstein Center in Columbus on March 21, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)
Ohio State Buckeyes forward Kylee Kitts (1) celebrates beside Howard Bison forward Zennia Thomas (24) during the first round of the NCAA women's basketball tournament at the Jerome Schottenstein Center in Columbus on March 21, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)
Ohio State Buckeyes guard T'yana Todd (4) and guard Chance Gray (2) press Howard Bison guard April Edwards (15) during the first round of the NCAA women's basketball tournament at the Jerome Schottenstein Center in Columbus on March 21, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)
Ohio State Buckeyes guard Jaloni Cambridge (22) steals the ball from Howard Bison forward Sa'lah Hemingway (11) during the first round of the NCAA women's basketball tournament at the Jerome Schottenstein Center in Columbus on March 21, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)
Ohio State Buckeyes guard Jaloni Cambridge (22) shoots in front of Howard Bison forward Sa'lah Hemingway (11) during the first round of the NCAA women's basketball tournament at the Jerome Schottenstein Center in Columbus on March 21, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)
Ohio State Buckeyes forward Kylee Kitts (1) shoots over Howard Bison forward Zennia Thomas (24) during the first round of the NCAA women's basketball tournament at the Jerome Schottenstein Center in Columbus on March 21, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)
1/17
See highlights from OSU women vs. Howard in NCAA Tournament first round
The Ohio State Buckeyes prepare to take on the Howard Bison in the first round of the NCAA women's basketball tournament at the Jerome Schottenstein Center in Columbus on March 21, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)
1/17
See highlights from OSU women vs. Howard in NCAA Tournament first round
The Ohio State Buckeyes prepare to take on the Howard Bison in the first round of the NCAA women's basketball tournament at the Jerome Schottenstein Center in Columbus on March 21, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)
2/17
See highlights from OSU women vs. Howard in NCAA Tournament first round
Ohio State Buckeyes guard Jaloni Cambridge (22) warms up prior to the first round of the NCAA women's basketball tournament game against the Howard Bison at the Jerome Schottenstein Center in Columbus on March 21, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)
3/17
See highlights from OSU women vs. Howard in NCAA Tournament first round
The Ohio State Buckeyes huddle prior to the first round of the NCAA women's basketball tournament game against the Howard Bison at the Jerome Schottenstein Center in Columbus on March 21, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)
4/17
See highlights from OSU women vs. Howard in NCAA Tournament first round
Ohio State Buckeyes guard Jaloni Cambridge (22) is introduced prior to the first round of the NCAA women's basketball tournament game against the Howard Bison at the Jerome Schottenstein Center in Columbus on March 21, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)
5/17
See highlights from OSU women vs. Howard in NCAA Tournament first round
Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Kevin McGuff watches during the first round of the NCAA women's basketball tournament game against the Howard Bison at the Jerome Schottenstein Center in Columbus on March 21, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)
6/17
See highlights from OSU women vs. Howard in NCAA Tournament first round
Ohio State Buckeyes guard Jaloni Cambridge (22) dribbles up court against the Howard Bison during the first round of the NCAA women's basketball tournament at the Jerome Schottenstein Center in Columbus on March 21, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)
7/17
See highlights from OSU women vs. Howard in NCAA Tournament first round
Howard Bison head coach Ty Grace talks to guard April Edwards (15) against the Ohio State Buckeyes during the first round of the NCAA women's basketball tournament at the Jerome Schottenstein Center in Columbus on March 21, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)
8/17
See highlights from OSU women vs. Howard in NCAA Tournament first round
Ohio State Buckeyes guard Chance Gray (2) celebrates alongside guard T'yana Todd (4) during the first round of the NCAA women's basketball tournament game against the Howard Bison at the Jerome Schottenstein Center in Columbus on March 21, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)
9/17
See highlights from OSU women vs. Howard in NCAA Tournament first round
Howard Bison forward Zennia Thomas (24) reacts during the first round of the NCAA women's basketball tournament against the Ohio State Buckeyes at the Jerome Schottenstein Center in Columbus on March 21, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)
10/17
See highlights from OSU women vs. Howard in NCAA Tournament first round
Ohio State Buckeyes guard Jaloni Cambridge (22) celebrates during the first round of the NCAA women's basketball tournament against the Howard Bison at the Jerome Schottenstein Center in Columbus on March 21, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)
11/17
See highlights from OSU women vs. Howard in NCAA Tournament first round
Ohio State Buckeyes center Elsa Lemmilä (12) blocks the shot of Howard Bison guard Ariella Henigan (4) during the first round of the NCAA women's basketball tournament at the Jerome Schottenstein Center in Columbus on March 21, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)
12/17
See highlights from OSU women vs. Howard in NCAA Tournament first round
Ohio State Buckeyes fans celebrate during the first round of the NCAA women's basketball tournament against the Howard Bison at the Jerome Schottenstein Center in Columbus on March 21, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)
13/17
See highlights from OSU women vs. Howard in NCAA Tournament first round
Ohio State Buckeyes forward Kylee Kitts (1) celebrates beside Howard Bison forward Zennia Thomas (24) during the first round of the NCAA women's basketball tournament at the Jerome Schottenstein Center in Columbus on March 21, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)
14/17
See highlights from OSU women vs. Howard in NCAA Tournament first round
Ohio State Buckeyes guard T'yana Todd (4) and guard Chance Gray (2) press Howard Bison guard April Edwards (15) during the first round of the NCAA women's basketball tournament at the Jerome Schottenstein Center in Columbus on March 21, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)
15/17
See highlights from OSU women vs. Howard in NCAA Tournament first round
Ohio State Buckeyes guard Jaloni Cambridge (22) steals the ball from Howard Bison forward Sa'lah Hemingway (11) during the first round of the NCAA women's basketball tournament at the Jerome Schottenstein Center in Columbus on March 21, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)
16/17
See highlights from OSU women vs. Howard in NCAA Tournament first round
Ohio State Buckeyes guard Jaloni Cambridge (22) shoots in front of Howard Bison forward Sa'lah Hemingway (11) during the first round of the NCAA women's basketball tournament at the Jerome Schottenstein Center in Columbus on March 21, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)
17/17
See highlights from OSU women vs. Howard in NCAA Tournament first round
Ohio State Buckeyes forward Kylee Kitts (1) shoots over Howard Bison forward Zennia Thomas (24) during the first round of the NCAA women's basketball tournament at the Jerome Schottenstein Center in Columbus on March 21, 2026.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)
On March 1, Cambridge, a redshirt junior guard, broke Ohio State's single-season steals record of 115, which was set by Yvette Angel in 1985, and has reached 130 following the first-round performance.
Ohio State started slow and took just seven shots in the opening seven minutes. Buckeyes leading scorerJaloni Cambridgedrove to the basket for her first points with 2:33 remaining in the first quarter, tying the game 10-10.
Jaloni Cambridge's basket set the tone for the rest of the game, as the Buckeyes outscored the Bison 23-4 in the second quarter. The sophomore point guard notched 10 of her game-high 21 points during the stretch.
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Howard's lone field goal of the second quarter came less than a minute before halftime, and Ohio State pulled ahead 43-19 going into the locker room.
Ohio State Buckeyes guard Jaloni Cambridge (22) celebrates during the first round of the NCAA women's basketball tournament against the Howard Bison at the Jerome Schottenstein Center in Columbus on March 21, 2026.
While Howard was never able to build any offensive momentum with the clock running in the second half, the Bison recorded nine of 17 third-quarter points off free throws.
Ohio State was charged with eight fouls in the third quarter, compared to Howard's four. The Buckeyes' foul count included a technical against coach Kevin McGuff.
McGuff got the technical after arguing a foul charged to redshirt freshman forward Kylee Kitts while she was defending a layup attempt from Howard forward Zennia Thomas. Howard missed three of the four resulting free throws.
