UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.- Penn State women’s basketball travels to Columbus, Ohio to take on no. 14/15 Ohio State on Wednesday, Jan. 14. The Lady Lions (7-10, 0-6 Big Ten) and the Buckeyes (15-2, 5-1 Big Ten) are scheduled to tip off at 6:30 p.m. in the Schottenstein Center with coverage on B1G+.
Penn State is in search of its first conference win of the season while Ohio State looks to extend a four-game conference win streak.
GAME INFORMATION
vs. no. 14/15 Ohio State
- Date: Wednesday, January 14 2025 | Time: 6:30 p.m. ET
- Location: Columbus, Ohio | Venue: Schottenstein Center
- Live Stats | Watch: B1G+ | Notes | Radio
- Admission: Ticketed
LAST TIME OUT
- The Lady Lions dropped sixth-straight game to Illinois, 92-76 on Sunday. Despite a close contest through three quarters, lights out shooting from the field, specifically from three-point range, allowed the Illini to create separation in the fourth quarter.
- Three Lady Lions had double-digit scoring performances. Gracie Merkle compiled a team-high 24 points on eight-of-12 shooting from the field in addition to seven boards. She also shot an impressive eight-of-10 from the free throw line. Kiyomi McMiller added 19 points, seven assists, three rebounds and two steals. Nyla McFadden posted her third double figure scoring outing and second-straight with 12 points.
- Penn State matched its best turnover margin of the season, only turning the ball over itself 11 times and forcing 21 miscues on the Illini. The Lady Lions converted 31 points from turnovers in the contest.
SCOUTING THE BUCKEYES
- Ohio State is 15-2, 5-1 Big Ten this season. After falling to no. 4/4 UCLA in late December, the Buckeyes are on a four-game Big Ten tear, defeating Purdue, Rutgers, Illinois and no. 8/8 Maryland most recently on Sunday.
- Jaloni Cambridge leads the squad on offense, averaging 21.2 points per game which ranks 10th nationally and third in the Big Ten. She also ranks 11th in the country in total points (360) which is second in the B1G. Chance Gray also averages double figure scoring, putting up 12.7 points per game.
- Kennedy Cambridge is second in the country and first in the conference in steals (70) and steals per game (4.12).
- As a team, Ohio State ranks 11th in the country in steals per game (13.4), 11th in turnover margin (9.53), 14th in turnovers forced per game (23.41) and 15th in scoring offense (84.9).
- Cambridge was named to the Preseason All-Big Ten team as well as the Naismith Trophy and Wooden Award Preseason Watch Lists. Last month, she found herself on the midseason Wooden Award List. Throughout the campaign, Cambridge has earned two Big Ten Weekly Honor Roll nods and one Player of the Week this week after posting a career high 41 points against Illinois. Freshman Kylie Kitts secured the Freshman of the Week title this week as well for a Buckeyes sweep.
- Last season, the Buckeyes finished 26-7, 13-5 Big Ten. After losing to UCLA in the semifinals of the conference tournament, Ohio State made a run to the second round of the NCAA Tournament where it lost to Tennessee to finish the campaign.
PENN STATE – OHIO STATE SERIES
- Penn State leads the all-time series against Illinois 38-34.
- In recent years, the Lady Lions defeated the Buckeyes in 2021 when they were ranked 15th and last season in 2025 when they were ranked no. 9/8.
- Penn State is 12-17 in games played in Columbus against the Buckeyes..
- In last season’s meeting, Gracie Merkle recorded a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Moriah Murray had 12 points using four three-pointers.
LADY LIONS IN THE RANKS
- After 17 games, Merkle ranks first in the nation in field goal percentage (74.6) and ninth in field goals (144). She is also fourth in the conference points per game (19.1).
- McMiller ranks 13th in the nation in field goals (140) and second in field goal attempts (326), ranking fifth and first across the B1G consecutively in those categories. She sits fifth in the conference in points per game (18.9).