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Will No. 12 OSU have Cotie McMahon vs No. 21 Illinois? An update ahead of Big Ten matchup
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- Will No. 12 OSU have Cotie McMahon vs No. 21 Illinois? An update ahead of Big Ten matchup
It has been over a week since the No. 12 Ohio State women's basketball team competed in the Dayton Beach Classic , giving ample time for the Buckeyes to prepare for Sunday's game against No. 21 Illinois. It's also given Cotie McMahon an extended period to continue recovering an injury.
McMahon suffered a right lower-leg injury in practice following Ohio State's road game against Belmont on Nov. 17 , leaving her in a boot on the bench the next four games.
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In the past week, McMahon has returned to practice, but her availability for Ohio State's first Big Ten matchup of the season is uncertain.
"She's in practice, and still kind of day-to-day, but she's made significant progress," Ohio State coach Kevin McGuff said. "If she's not available, we kind of just go with the same rotation we've had. And, Illinois is a great team, they're in the midst of an excellent season ... we know that we have our hands full on Sunday, and hopefully we can be at full strength."
Ohio State Buckeyes forward Cotie McMahon (32) celebrates during the first half of the NCAA women's basketball game against the Charlotte 49ers at Value City Arena on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024.
Of the nation-leading nine Big Ten teams in the AP top 25 poll, Illinois is the sixth highest-ranked with a 7-1 record. The Fighting Illini's loss of this season came against No. 14 Kentucky, 76-53.
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Illinois' start to the season is an improvement from last season, when the Illini finished ninth in the conference with a 19-15 record. McGuff expressed his expectation that Illinois would be a tough competitor based its Ohio State's previous meeting.
During the Buckeyes' 15-game winning streak last year, a non-ranked Illinois kept the matchup within 10 points with Ohio State pulling out a 67-59 victory.
"They can shoot the ball really well," Ohio State senior Taylor Thierry said. "They have good posts. They rebound really, really well. So, I think rebounding is where we struggle at times when we're not playing our best, so I think that's going to be a huge test."
A 6-foot-2 graduate forward, Kendall Bostic is leading Illinois in both scoring and rebounding, averaging a double-double with 16 points and 10.1 rebounds.
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In recent seasons, rebounding has been the Buckeyes' biggest catalyst.
Ohio State Buckeyes forward Taylor Thierry (2) and center Elsa Lemmil (12) defend Charlotte 49ers forward Tena Ikidi (40) during the NCAA women's basketball game at Value City Arena on Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024. Ohio State won 94-53.
It was Ohio State's downfall in the Big Ten tournament, as the Buckeyes were outrebounded 55-31 in the upset defeat against Maryland.
This season, the Buckeyes have seen success rebounding. During the two games at the Dayton Beach Classic, Ohio State outrebounded Old Dominion and Utah State with the help of graduate forward Ajae Petty.
Petty was brought from Kentucky to help Ohio State's game on the boards , and Petty recorded her first double-double in the first game of the tournament with 24 points and 11 rebounds, before grabbing 9 in the second.
Ohio State Buckeyes forward Ajae Petty (1) shoots around Charlotte 49ers guard Nia Young (5) during the first half of the NCAA women's basketball game at Value City Arena on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. Ohio State won 94-53.
Illinois will be Petty's first Big Ten test since playing Minnesota with Kentucky nearly a year ago.
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"That's the biggest thing, just trying to get adjusted to the different conferences," Petty said. "I know they (Illinois) got a pretty solid big over there, I know she runs the floor well and different things like that. So, I'm just being able to lock in."
Ohio State is set to tipoff against Illinois at 4 p.m. on Sunday at Value City Arena.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio State vs Illinois: Is Cotie McMahon playing in Big Ten matchup?
