No. 11 Ohio State Dominates Stanford 84-59 in the Bay Area Women’s Classic

SAN FRANCISCO — No. 11 Ohio State extended its unbeaten streak with an authoritative 84-59 win over Stanford on Friday night at the Chase Center in San Francisco. The Buckeyes, now 12-0 on the season, showcased depth and efficiency, with six players scoring in double figures.

Stanford (8-4), which entered the game ranked second in the nation in three-point percentage, struggled mightily against Ohio State’s defensive scheme. The Cardinal shot just 12.5% (2-of-16) from beyond the arc, as Ohio State executed a defensive strategy focused on neutralizing Stanford’s strength.

“We made that a huge point of emphasis in practice that we would have to challenge them at the three-point line,” Ohio State head coach Kevin McGuff said postgame. “I think in general defensively today was probably the first game all year where we kind of got our full court defense and our half court defense working in conjunction. I think it kind of wore on them.”

This game marked a return to the Chase Center for Stanford, which participated in the venue’s first-ever college basketball game on Nov. 9, 2019.

First Half: Establishing Control

Both teams struggled offensively in the opening minutes, but Ohio State used a pair of 6-0 runs to build a 16-6 lead after the first quarter. The Buckeyes’ defense held Stanford to just two field goals on 18% shooting in the period, forcing five turnovers.

Madison Greene and Ajae Petty opened the second quarter with back-to-back layups, extending Ohio State’s lead to 20-6. Petty, who finished the night with 14 points and nine rebounds, found her rhythm in the paint. Chance Gray hit two jumpers, helping the Buckeyes maintain their momentum. While Stanford made minor adjustments, including a late first-half basket by Nunu Agara, Ohio State entered halftime with a commanding 33-19 lead.

Second Half: Buckeyes Maintain Momentum

Ohio State’s dominance continued in the third quarter as Cotie McMahon and Taylor Thierry led a balanced offensive attack. McMahon reached double figures first and finished with a team-high 16 points, while Thierry added 12 points and nine rebounds. An 8-0 Buckeye run midway through the period widened the gap to 45-27. Ava Watson hit two critical three-pointers late in the quarter, pushing the lead to 57-39.

In the final quarter, the Buckeyes’ depth proved decisive. Watson, who scored 11 points off the bench, connected on another three-pointer, while Greene added six points, finishing with a season-high 15. Ohio State outscored Stanford 27-20 in the fourth quarter, shooting 70.6% from the field during the period. The Buckeyes capped their performance with a 7-0 run, cementing the 25-point victory.

Key Statistics

• Ohio State Shooting: 50% (35-70) from the field, 28.6% (6-21) from three
• Stanford Shooting: 39% (23-59) from the field, 12.5% (2-16) from three
• Turnovers: Stanford 19, Ohio State 6
• Points Off Turnovers: Ohio State 17, Stanford 1

Top Performers

• Ohio State:
  • Cotie McMahon: 16 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists
  • Ajae Petty: 14 points, 9 rebounds
  • Chance Gray: 14 points
  • Madison Greene: 15 points, 3-of-6 from three
  • Taylor Thierry: 12 points, 8 rebounds
  • Ava Watson: 11 points, 3-of-7 from three
• Stanford:
  • Nunu Agara: 17 points, 10 rebounds
  • Tess Heal: 10 points
  • Elena Bosgana: 8 points, 11 rebounds

Up Next

Ohio State continues Big Ten conference play against Rutgers on Dec. 29. Stanford goes on the road for its second Atlantic Coast Conference game of the season at SMU in Dallas on Jan. 2.