No. 5 Ohio State was so hot to start the game that Ameryst Alston couldn’t explain it.
”I don’t know. It was just contagious I guess,” the OSU senior said.
Five players scored in double figures and the Buckeyes (22-4, 14-1 Big Ten) shot 54 percent from 3-point range while routing Nebraska 96-70.
Alston finished with 16 points and a pair of 3-pointers. Fellow guard Kelsey Mitchell also scored 16 while hitting 5 of 11 from long range, but the Ohio State frontcourt did plenty of damage, too.
Center Alexa Hart had 18 points and nine rebounds while forward Shayla Cooper came off the bench to post her eighth double-double of the season with 16 points and 11 boards.
Guard Asia Doss rounded out Ohio State’s balanced scoring effort with 13 points on 6-for-9 shooting.
”When they’re shooting the way they did tonight, I don’t know how you’re going to stop them,” Nebraska coach Connie Yori said.
”I think Ohio State is every bit as good as I thought they would be,” she said. ”Their ability to score in bunches is off the charts. We’re not a great defensive team and when those two forces hit they’re going to get into the 90s or more, so they’re just really hard to guard.”
Jessica Shepard led Nebraska (17-9, 8-7) with 20 points and eight rebounds.
Ohio State dominated the first half, taking a 50-34 lead into the locker room thanks to Mitchell’s 3-pointer just before the buzzer.
The Buckeyes shot 58 percent in the first quarter and 55 percent for the half (21 for 38), including 7 for 14 from long range.
They outscored the visitors 23-12 in the third quarter to expand their lead to 73-46.
”I think with our team you have to guard each and every one of us,” Alston said. ”I don’t think we have just one player or two players. One through five you have to guard us, so when we attack it creates opportunities for us to get open shots.”
Ohio State extended its winning streak to 10 games. It maintained its one-game lead in the Big Ten standings over No. 6 Maryland, a 76-56 winner against Michigan on Wednesday night.
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