After completing a three-game road trip, the Ohio State women’s basketball team is glad to be home.
They will face Illinois (11-4, 3-2) tonight at the Schottenstein Center with tip-off at 7 p.m.
The Buckeyes (13-3, 4-1) have not defeated the Fighting Illini in their last five meetings. The Buckeyes went 2-1 on its road trip with wins over Wisconsin and Northwestern and a loss at Indiana.
With the win over Northwestern last Sunday, the Buckeyes swept the season series from the Wildcats.
This is the best start for the women’s basketball program since 1992-93, when OSU great Katie Smith led the team to a 14-2 start.
OSU coach Jim Foster wants to keep the momentum going by winning at home.
However, Foster knows Illinois is a formidable opponent.
“They like to play the up-tempo game, going 94 feet and extending the defense,” Foster said. “We have to run with intelligence, take high-percentage shots but not get caught into the trap of going up and down.”
Senior forward Courtney Coleman is also impressed with the Illini.
“They are one of the teams to beat in the Big Ten,” Coleman said.
Coleman has continued to play strong as of late but credits her teammates for her success over the past few weeks.
“They have done a great job of getting me the ball,” she said.
Coleman is shooting over 60 percent from the field.
Foster likes what he has seen from his team in the early portion of the Big Ten Conference schedule.
“We are getting better offensively, which is something you hope to see as the year goes on,” he said. “You are also starting to see a lot of players grow.”
One of those growing players is sophomore guard Caity Matter. Matter was named Big Ten Player of the Week for her performances against Wisconsin and Northwestern.
Matter tied Smith’s OSU record for three-point field goals made in a game when she nailed seven against the Badgers.
Along with adding her name to the OSU record book, Matter said she is honored to be mentioned with Smith.
“If you were young and playing basketball in the state of Ohio, everyone wanted to be Katie Smith,” Matter said. “And so did I.”
It has been a while since a Buckeye earned Big Ten Player of the Week honors. Redshirt junior LaToya Turner was the last to win top honors, taking the award in November 2000.
Not only are the two teams familiar with each other, but so are the coaches. Illinois coach Theresa Grentz served head coach for St. Joseph in Philadelphia during the mid-1970s. Foster followed her, serving as head coach from 1978 to 1991.
Foster also was an assistant to Grentz twice during international competition. The first time was at the 1990 Goodwill Games, where the U.S. National team won the gold medal. The second time was at the 1992 Olympics, where the U.S. team won a bronze.
Foster has high respect for Grentz.
“She has done it all, coaching in every area, including for the U.S.A.,” Foster said.
