No. 18 Ohio State Shocks Nation with Last-Second Shot to Topple Hawkeyes in Front of Record Crowd
In one of the most thrilling games of the women’s college basketball season, the No. 18 Ohio State Buckeyes stunned the nation by knocking off No. 2 Iowa 100-92 in overtime on Sunday afternoon in front of a program-record 10,994 fans at Value City Arena.
The hero of the day was Buckeyes guard Cotie McMahon, who poured in a career-high 33 points to will Ohio State to victory. However, the game will also be remembered for a scary incident involving Iowa superstar Caitlin Clark after the final buzzer.
As Ohio State fans stormed the court to celebrate the monumental upset, Clark was accidentally knocked down from behind by an overzealous Buckeyes supporter running at full speed onto the hardwood.
Game Summary
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa | 16 | 29 | 23 | 18 | 6 | 92 |
| Ohio State | 14 | 21 | 29 | 20 | 16 | 100 |
Clark Dazzles but Buckeyes Rally Late to Force Overtime
Clark was sensational once again in defeat, pouring in 45 points on 17-28 shooting, including 6-13 from three-point range. She also added 5 rebounds and 3 assists.
Iowa held a 16-point lead in the first half and led by eight with just over two minutes left in regulation. However, Ohio State rallied with clutch buckets down the stretch, including a McMahon triple with 10 seconds left to tie the game at 86 and force overtime.
The Buckeyes carried that momentum into the extra session, opening overtime on an 11-2 run. Iowa got back within three points, but Ohio State closed out the final minute at the free throw line to seal the exhilarating win.
In addition to McMahon, Taylor Mikesell scored 21 points and made five 3-pointers for Ohio State. Rebeka Mikulášiková nearly had a triple-double with 10 points, 10 rebounds and 9 assists.
Monika Czinano scored 22 points on efficient 11-14 shooting for the Hawkeyes. No other Iowa player scored more than 8 points.
Massive Crowd Witnesses All-Time Classic Between Big Ten Powers
Sunday’s thriller was played in front of 10,994 fans, many of whom waited in line for hours leading up to tip-off for the opportunity to watch two of the biggest stars in women’s college hoops square off.
Ohio State set three attendance records on the day – not only for a women’s basketball game, but for any women’s sport event and for any on-campus athletics competition other than football. Students camped out overnight and the atmosphere was electric, with Ohio State converting the emotion in the building into a signature win for the program.
Iowa was the highest ranked opponent to ever play at Value City Arena, and the game lived up to the immense hype. Buckeyes coach Kevin McGuff called it “arguably the biggest win” in his Ohio State tenure.
For Iowa, it was a difficult defeat after holding a 16-point first half lead. The Hawkeyes were outscored 29-23 in the third quarter as Ohio State began its comeback, repeatedly getting to the foul line to slowly chip away at the deficit. Iowa also struggled to defend without fouling and Ohio State attempted 38 free throws in the game.
Biggest Home Crowds – Ohio State Women’s Basketball
| Opponent | Date | Result | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa | January 21, 2024 | W 100-92 (OT) | 10,994 |
| Connecticut | January 13, 2018 | L 80-71 | 10,094 |
| Notre Dame | December 5, 2009 | L 67-65 | 10,024 |
Scary Scene as Celebrating Fan Accidentally Collides with Clark
As Buckeyes fans celebrated the monumental upset by swarming the court, an overjoyed student inadvertently crashed into Clark from behind near the Iowa bench area. Video replays showed the fan seemingly not realizing Clark was standing there and running at full speed before the collision.
Clark fell down from the contact and remained on the ground for several seconds as team personnel came to check on her. She eventually stood up on her own power but was visibly shaken after getting the wind knocked out of her.
Iowa coach Lisa Bluder called the incident “dangerous” and said court storming should not be allowed. Thankfully Clark was not seriously injured, but it was a scary moment for the Hawkeyes star.
Ohio State issued a short statement after the game saying it will review court storming policies to make the process safer. With raucous sellout crowds becoming the norm for the ascending Buckeyes program, the issue could come up again during a big win this season.
What This Means Going Forward
For No. 18 Ohio State, this win firmly establishes the Buckeyes as contenders both within the Big Ten and nationally. Picked 10th in the Big Ten preseason poll, Ohio State has exceeded expectations and now owns wins over three ranked opponents on the season.
Sunday’s triumph came on the heels of a blowout loss at unranked Northwestern, making the response to adversity even more impressive. With the statement win over Iowa, Ohio State looks like a lock to make its first NCAA Tournament since 2018.
No. 2 Iowa will likely remain ranked near the top of the polls, but the loss raises some concerns – particularly on defense and maintaining leads down the stretch. Iowa’s only other loss this year came to another unranked team in Creighton. The Hawkeyes may still be the conference favorite, but Ohio State and Indiana have shown vulnerabilities in the nation’s deepest league.
As for Caitlin Clark, she gained legions of new fans on Sunday with her unparalleled shooting skills on full display. Despite 45 points from their star, Iowa failed to close out a double-digit lead for the second straight contest. Clark will need more support for the Hawkeyes to reach their ultimate goal of a Final Four.
After shaking off the literal hit from the court storming fan, don’t expect this setback to slow down Clark. She remains must-see TV and the most dominant offensive player in college basketball.
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