The Ohio State women’s basketball team remained perfect at home yesterday, trouncing the Iowa Hawkeyes 74-59 at the Schottenstein Center.
The Buckeyes (15-3 overall, 6-1 Big Ten), are off to their best start since the 1992-93 season and have won 10 straight games at home.
The OSU victory was the fourth straight versus the Hawkeyes (10-7 overall, 2-4 Big Ten), who have never won a game in the Schottenstein Center.
The difference in yesterday’s game was OSU’s relentless zone defense, which forced 24 Hawkeye turnovers and produced 14 steals for the Buckeyes.
“We switched defenses, and I think that helped us a lot,” said OSU coach Jim Foster. “We covered a little bit more territory.”
Sophomore guard Caity Matter led the Buckeyes in scoring, finishing with 20 points and grabbing six rebounds. She was one of three Buckeyes to score in double figures yesterday.
Matter lit it up from beyond the arc in the first half, nailing a trio of three-pointers. She took advantage of the Hawkeyes’ change in defense in the second half, slashing through the paint for baskets and hitting the boards at the other end.
“They had a shorter guard on me,” Matter said. “I’d just go down low and try to get a layup out of it.”
Freshman point guard Kim Wilburn turned in a balanced performance, tying a career-best mark with seven steals and delivering six assists and nine points for OSU, who shot nearly 50 percent from the field as a team.
Wilburn credits the Buckeyes’ competitive play in practice for yesterday’s tenacious defensive effort.
“We had an active defense. Anticipation — I think we played out in the zone,” Wilburn said.
The team benefitted from large contributions from its bench, which outscored the Hawkeyes 21-8.
Senior forward D’wan Shackleford tallied 14 points, shooting six for 11 from the field, to go along with her eight rebounds for the Buckeyes.
“I try to get out there and close down the shooters as quickly as possible,” Shackleford said. “I try to cover as much area as I can with my arms.”
Iowa forward Jennie Lillis led the Hawkeyes with 22 points and 10 rebounds.
Notably, OSU recorded only 12 penalties on the afternoon, a new season low. The team is learning their roles, Foster said, and that couldn’t come at a better time.
“At this stage of the season, doing your job, and understanding what it is, is very important,” Foster said.
The Buckeyes will take their four-game winning streak on the road beginning Thursday, with trips to Penn State and Purdue.
