STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — Cotie McMahon scored 17 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for her first double-double and No. 13 Ohio State defeated Penn State 67-55 on Thursday night.
The Buckeyes (22-5, 11-5 Big Ten) scored the last nine points of the third quarter to lead 51-31 and scored the first nine of the fourth quarter.
Rikki Harris had 15 points with eight rebounds, seven assists, two blocks and two steals for Ohio State and Taylor Thierry scored 13.
Makenna Marisa scored 22 points for Penn State (13-13, 4-11) and Leilani Kapinus had 10 points and 11 rebounds. The Nittany Lions fell to 0-6 against ranked teams,
McMahon hit a 3-pointer, as did Taylor Mikesell, and added a layup in a 12-0 run early in the first quarter as the Buckeyes took a 15-5 lead. The Nittany Lions stayed close, trailing 21-16 after one quarter and 38-26 at the half, a Buckeye lead built off an 11-2 run when Mikesell and Harris hit 3-pointers and Eboni Walker converted a three-point play.
The Nittany Lions were within 38-30 in the first minute of the third quarter but then missed missed their last 14 shots in the quarter and their first three of the fourth quarter.
Harris hit two 3-pointers and Mikesell's 3 made it 60-31 with 7:37 left. Penn State then scored the next 16 points with Marisa scoring 13.
The Buckeyes play at No. 12 Michigan on Monday. Penn State is at Illinois on Sunday.
