Ohio State women's basketball defeats Michigan State to end regular season
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Ohio State women's basketball defeats Michigan State to end regular season
Brianna Mac Kay, Columbus Dispatch·The Columbus Dispatch
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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 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)
1/17
Highlights from Ohio State, Michigan women's basketball game
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)
1/17
Highlights from Ohio State, Michigan women's basketball game
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)
2/17
Highlights from Ohio State, Michigan women's basketball game
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)
3/17
Highlights from Ohio State, Michigan women's basketball game
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)
4/17
Highlights from Ohio State, Michigan women's basketball game
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)
5/17
Highlights from Ohio State, Michigan women's basketball game
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)
6/17
Highlights from Ohio State, Michigan women's basketball game
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)
7/17
Highlights from Ohio State, Michigan women's basketball game
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)
8/17
Highlights from Ohio State, Michigan women's basketball game
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)
9/17
Highlights from Ohio State, Michigan women's basketball game
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)
10/17
Highlights from Ohio State, Michigan women's basketball game
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)
11/17
Highlights from Ohio State, Michigan women's basketball game
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)
12/17
Highlights from Ohio State, Michigan women's basketball game
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)
13/17
Highlights from Ohio State, Michigan women's basketball game
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)
14/17
Highlights from Ohio State, Michigan women's basketball game
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)
15/17
Highlights from Ohio State, Michigan women's basketball game
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)
16/17
Highlights from Ohio State, Michigan women's basketball game
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)
17/17
Highlights from Ohio State, Michigan women's basketball game
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)
Ohio Statefinished the women's basketball regular season with an 87-68 victory atMichigan Stateon March 1.
"It's a great day when I'm making 3s," Cambridge said. "That doesn't happen normally. So, I'm just proud of us for not letting up, for continuing to shoot those shots, miss or make. That's ultimately what we have to do."
TheBuckeyesstruggled with 3-point shooting, averaging 29.6% from beyond the arc in non-conference play, but improved to 39% against Big Ten opponents.
Ohio State's Jaloni Cambridge shoots a 3-pointer against Michigan State on March 1.
Cambridge closed out the regular season averaging a conference-high 23.4 points per game.
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The Buckeyes' 11 first-half 3-pointers boosted them to a 23-point halftime lead, but it was the defense that kept them alive during the Spartans' attempted comeback in the third quarter.
After beginning the second half down 49-26, Michigan State outscored Ohio State 22-13 in the third quarter to pull within 14 points. The damage in the quarter was limited by the Buckeyes' four steals and a block from centerElsa Lemmila.
Lemmila recorded three blocks while also contributing 11 points and 10 rebounds for her fifth double-double of the season. All of her points came from the paint, helping open up the Buckeyes' inside-out game.
"We just were able to attack the paint," Cambridge said. "And they were all sinking in."
GuardKennedy Cambridgeaccounted for half of the third-quarter steals and five steals overall. Her average of four steals per game ranks fourth in the nation.
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Cambridge's 120 steals in a season are a program record, topping 115 by Yvette Angle in the 1984-85 season.
"I'm really proud of her," Ohio State coachKevin McGuffsaid. "She plays so hard on that end of the floor, and she takes such pride. You just don't get a lot of players these days that take pride in being such great defenders.
The Buckeyes sit in the fifth seed going into the Big Ten Tournament with a 13-5 conference record but can move up to the No. 4 seed and earn a double-bye into the quarterfinals ifMinnesotafalls toIllinoislater on March 1.
