The Ohio State Buckeyes came into Wednesday’s trip to Syracuse riding high. Although against smaller conference teams, Ohio State led the NCAA in scoring offense (89.4 points per game) and a 5-0 record. Syracuse came into the game with a tough early part of the season. The Orange had a 3-4 record, as the team rebuilds from offseason mass transfers of players and a change in head coach. None of that mattered though, and Syracuse came away with a marquee home victory; beating the Buckeyes 97-91.
Ohio State started the game slowly. After all, it was the Buckeyes first road game of the season. Because of this, nerves were evident. An early turnover and four missed shots kept Ohio State off the scoreboard for over two minutes of game time. Fortunately, Syracuse had a difficult spell to start the game too. That spell resulted in only a three-point lead before the Buckeyes went on a roll.
The Buckeyes responded with a 15-point run, led by center Rebeka Mikulášiková. Picking up where Mikulášiková left off against Cincinnati, she scored nine points on 100% shooting. In addition, Mikulášiková picked up three rebounds. Ohio State’s stretch put the Buckeyes up 15-3 quickly, but Syracuse battled back.
Syracuse shrunk a 12-point deficit to six, ending the first quarter at 23-17. The problem for the Buckeyes was in their shooting. Their usual three-point shooting accuracy of 40% was only 16% in the first quarter.
Ohio State didn’t fare much better to start the second quarter. Halfway into the second, the Buckeyes overall shooting shrunk to 25% from the field and missed all three attempts from beyond the arc. Syracuse took the lead off a tremendous first half by Teisha Hyman. The guard for Syracuse scored a first half high of 18 points. By game’s end, Hyman scored a career high 30 points.
Buckeyes senior guard Taylor Mikesell, who was a 59% shooter from three didn’t sink her first until the 4:30 mark of the second quarter. It came after Mikesell’s first three attempts didn’t convert. That three broke Syracuse’s run and the Buckeyes slowed down the momentum.
It also sparked the Buckeye’s offense.
Mikesell’s first three put the Buckeyes up one, 30 seconds after losing their lead. Ohio State had an 8-0 run before Syracuse got back on the board. Mikesell scored eight in the second alone, putting the Buckeyes up three going into the half, with a score line of 39-36.
Starting the third quarter, Ohio State came out looking like they did in beginning of the game. Syracuse took advantage starting the quarter with a 6-0 run. The Buckeyes shots weren’t landing and Hyman continued her career night.
With over four minutes left in the third quarter, the Buckeyes came out of a timeout looking like a different team. Ohio State picked up their press intensity on defense, causing quick turnovers. From those turnovers, the Buckeyes got level. However, it didn’t last long.
Syracuse and the Buckeyes swapped threes, but the Ohio State pressure came back to hurt themselves. Tired legs and a faster pace left Syracuse shooters open. The Orange made three in a row from beyond the arc, jumping to a six-point lead.
Ohio State had a lot of ground to make up in the fourth quarter. That’s thanks to a third quarter where the Buckeyes gave up 29 points; which is their highest point total of the season for any quarter.
In the fourth quarter, Ohio State never really challenged Syracuse. The legs of a Buckeyes side running a full court press for four quarters, and playing for behind for much of the second half, showed. Unfortunately for the Buckeyes, they couldn’t catch Syracuse. The frustration for Ohio State was evident, as guard Kateri Poole received a technical for her reaction to a late foul in the final minutes of the game.
Giving Syracuse Confidence
The theme of the night was confidence. Syracuse came in with a losing record and winless against ranked opponents. Outside of the first and second quarter, the Ohio State defense allowed the Orange into the game. To Mikesell, that was a big key.
“We gave them life in the first quarter and the first half,” said Mikesell. “Second half, they were already going in and had the confidence to keep shooting.”
That shooting was evident not just by Hyman but throughout the Syracuse roster. Head Coach Kevin McGuff agreed echoed Mikesell’s thought on confidence, but also not pressuring the Orange when they attacked on the dribble.
“We didn’t guard the ball off the dribble at all,” said McGuff. “We tried to mix our defenses but bottom line we didn’t guard the ball well.”
Historic Night for Hyman
A big reason for the Buckeyes loss was the performance of Syracuse guard Hyman. Coming into Wednesday, Hyman averaged just over 11 points per game. Against the Buckeyes, Hyman went off for 30 points, adding six rebounds and two assists.
The unfortunate thing for the Buckeyes was that Hyman’s performance came mostly from open looks. After the Buckeye’s victory over Bellarmine, November 23, coach McGuff talked about improving on defense. Tonight was proof of more work needing done, as the Buckeyes gave up a season high 97 points.
Big Ten Looms
Next up for the Buckeyes is their first conference game of the season. Sunday, at 2 p.m. ET, Ohio State travels to Indiana to face Purdue. The Boilermakers are 6-2, and won their ACC challenge matchup against Georgia Tech 53-52 on Wednesday.
Tonight’s loss doesn’t have to derail this young Buckeyes team. Mikesell’s experience on the roster, and in handling defeats, reflects leadership within the Ohio State locker room.
“It’s only a loss if you didn’t learn from it,” said Mikesell.
There are four days to learn as much as they can from this defeat. Their next lesson is how to start the Big Ten season off on the right foot.
Follow Beyond Women’s Sports all season for coverage of Ohio State basketball. Thomas Costello is on Twitter too. Follow him @1ThomasCostello.
