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Ohio State holds Ball State to less than 50 points despite injuries to Cambridge sisters
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- Ohio State holds Ball State to less than 50 points despite injuries to Cambridge sisters
The No. 11 Ohio State women's basketball team went into it's matchup on Tuesday with limited rest and played with a limited lineup but was able to maintain its perfect record, defeating Ball State 80-48 at Value City Arena.
The victory follows an 83-74 win over against Illinois two days earlier in which coach Kevin McGuff feels Ohio State "expended a lot of physical and mental energy."
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To add to the challenge, Ohio State went into Tuesday's game without redshirt sophomore Kennedy Cambridge , who is day-to-day with a right lower-leg injury, according to McGuff.
Cambridge's absence put the Buckeyes' lineup at nine available players for the game.
Then the Buckeyes were hit with another injury during the game to Cambridge's sister, starting freshman Jaloni Cambridge.
Ohio State guard Jaloni Cambridge shoots against Bowling Green on Nov. 24.
Midway through the third quarter, Jaloni Cambridge went to the locker room holding her right shoulder after hitting the floor while going up for a layup. Cambridge did return to bench, but not the game.
This marks the second time Jaloni Cambridge has missed a portion of a game due to sustaining an injury in the process of driving to the basket. Against Charlotte on Nov. 12, she injured her back on a layup and left the game.
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"She plays so fast, that sometimes, if there's contact, it's sometimes hard to control your body," McGuff said. "She's just playing so fast and so aggressively, which is obviously one of her greatest strengths. So, just got to make sure we're not putting her in position to hurt herself."
Ohio State starters Chance Gray , Taylor Thierry and Ajae Petty minimized the challenge of the injuries, recording double-digit scoring. Gray had a team-leading 21 points, while Thierry had 12 and Petty added 10.
Freshmen Ava Watson and Elsa Lemmila also utilized their opportunities.
Ohio State's Ava Watson scored 15 points on Tuesday, including three 3-pointers.
Watson put together a 15-point performance, recording three of Ohio State's seven 3-pointers. Lemmila, a 6-foot-6 forward, grabbed eight rebounds and scored 6 points.
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"I don't really think about it as pressure, but I know that since they (the Cambridge sisters) were both out, my minutes were going to go us," Watson said. "So, it's just do whatever my team needs, hustle, do the dirty work and just be there for my team, whatever they need."
The Buckeyes started fast, going on a 14-2 run in the first four minutes. For the second consecutive game, Ohio State's run was led by Gray, who had six of the 14 points.
Before Ball State could put up its first points, the Cardinals had an injury of their own. Madelyn Bischoff quickly had to leave the court with what appeared to be a left arm injury 45 seconds into the game. Bischoff, who averages 12.2 points, did not return to the game.
The Buckeyes are 9-0 and will face Youngstown at 11 a.m. Saturday at home.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio State defeats Ball State despite injuries to Cambridge sisters
