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The Ohio State-Iowa series has provided big moments this season, and could still have more
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- The Ohio State-Iowa series has provided big moments this season, and could still have more
IOWA CITY, Iowa - The result of their first matchup with Ohio State this season had been sitting in the back of the Iowa Hawkeyes' minds since that game on Jan. 21.
Over a month later, No. 6 Iowa evened the score, defeating No. 2 Ohio State 93-83 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena after falling to the Buckeyes in overtime at Value City Arena in January.
Iowa's Caitlin Clark shoots as Ohio State's Jacy Sheldon defends on Sunday.
With the possibility of this Big Ten rivalry series still having a couple of games left this season, via the conference and NCAA tournaments, the Buckeyes now know what it feels like to win and lose against the Hawkeyes.
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"It's a reminder that we are going to be much better in those areas," said Ohio State coach Kevin McGuff. "Transition defense, rebounding and taking care of the ball if we're going to have the chance to play them again."
Following the 2022-23 season, in which Ohio State went 0-3 against Iowa , this season has seen the rivalry peak.
In the January matchup , the Buckeyes pulled off the biggest upset during their 15-game winning streak , rallying from a 12-point deficit in an effort led by sophomore Cotie McMahon's career-high 33 points. The second time around, the Hawkeyes snapped that winning streak in a game in which Caitlin Clark broke the NCAA Division 1 all-time scoring record .
Ohio State guard Jacy Sheldon (4) and Iowa guard Kate Martin, right, chase the ball during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, March 3, 2024, in Iowa City, Iowa. (AP Photo/Cliff Jette)
"I think Ohio State's team has always battled us really, really well," Clark said. "It kind of goes back and forth a little bit, and I think that's what makes it so fun. And they're a very, very talented group and a lot of their core has been there since I've been playing."
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Ohio State has been playing some of the best basketball the program has seen in years and Iowa is riding its final season with a generational talent in Clark, adding extra reasons to why both teams have fought hard not the give the other an inch of an advantage. It shows in areas beyond the caliber of play they've brought to the court this season.
Ohio State forward Cotie McMahon reacts during the Buckeyes’ victory over Iowa in January.
Emotions have been on display in both of their meetings this season but were especially heightened on Sunday. Ohio State had moments when emotions got the best of them, which led to technical fouls handed to McMahon and Rikki Harris.
While nearly everyone's eyes were on Clark taking the technical foul free throws and breaking Pete Maravich's scoring record, teammate Celeste Taylor was trying to talk McMahon through the moment.
Ohio State's Rikki Harris and Iowa's Caitlin Clark talk as the clock runs out on Sunday.
"I'm sure you could see the frustration, or rather the emotion that we all play with on this team," Taylor said. "That's just one time where Cotie's gotten emotional in that game. She was frustrated, so just talking, just keeping her calm, keeping her together, obviously it was a little too late. But, just trying to keep her locked in the game, knowing that we need her ."
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McGuff said it is important to have players in those moments helping teammates.
"We've got good leadership and good upperclassmen," McGuff said. "I didn't see what happened during the game, but we have Celeste, Jacy (Sheldon), those guys are really good with our younger players, including Cotie."
The intensity is expected to stay the same considering the only other editions of this rivalry that can realistically take place this season is in the playoffs at neutral sites.
The Buckeyes have confidence that they can bounce back from their first loss of 2024.
"We've proven, I think, that we can handle tough losses early in the year," McGuff said. "And we reacted the right way, and I think we have enough experience and leadership on our team that they're going to make sure all the younger players are focused and ready to go this week."
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio State women's rivalry with Iowa might not be over this season
