Ohio State looks to add to it's impressive winning streak while also adding to Northwestern's six game losing streak. espin's game preview is below
The Ohio State Buckeyes (18-0, 7-0 Big Ten) will try to stay hot and extend an 18-game winning streak when they host the Northwestern Wildcats (6-11, 0-7 Big Ten) on Thursday, January 19, 2023 at Value City Arena at the Jerome Schottenstein Center. The game is at 6:30 PM ET. Rebeka Mikulasikova's 25 points led Ohio State to a 76-67 win over Nebraska on Saturday in the team's last action. Northwestern was taken down by Purdue 65-54 in the team's last action on Saturday. Kaylah Rainey's team-high 14 points were not enough in the loss.
Ohio State Team Stats
Ohio State heads into the matchup with an 86.4 points per game average, 15.1 more than the 71.3 Northwestern allows per contest. The Buckeyes are 17-0 in games when they put up at least 71 points. In the 2022-23 campaign, the Buckeyes average 18.8 assists and 13.8 turnovers per game. When Ohio State has an assist-to-turnover ratio better than its season mark of 1.36, the Buckeyes are 9-0.
Northwestern Team Stats
The Wildcats average per-game outing of 63.9 points is more than the 63.4 Ohio State gives up. When Northwestern reaches the 63-point mark, it is 6-5 on the year. When they get to the free throw line, which they do 18.5 times a game, the Wildcats shoot 67.8 percent, which is 13th in the Big Ten. Sydney Wood is Northwestern's best shooter from the line, making 2.2 free throws a game while shooting 76 percent.
Ohio State Players to Watch
Taylor Mikesell, Ohio State's top scorer, is averaging 18.6 points and 1.6 steals per game. Taylor Thierry leads the Buckeyes with 6.6 rebounds per game and adds 12.3 points, while Madison Greene paces the team with 5.0 assists and averages 10.9 points. Mikesell has proven to be the biggest threat for Ohio State from downtown. She leads the team in made threes per game, drilling 3.2 three-pointers per contest (making 40 percent of her attempts).Player stats reflect 18 of 18 games this season.
Northwestern Players to Watch
Caileigh Walsh is Northwestern's top scorer, tallying 12.5 points a contest, and leading rebounder with 5.2 rebounds per game. Wood averages 11.2 points and 2.5 steals for the Wildcats, while Brown averages 7.2 points per game. Walsh leads Northwestern's three-point shooting efforts, hitting 1.1 threes per game while connecting on 28 percent of her shots from downtown.
