CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Jacy Sheldon scored 22 points and No. 18 Ohio State women's basketball moved into a virtual first-place tie in the Big Ten, rolling past Illinois 83-67 Monday night.
The Buckeyes (19-4, 11-3 Big Ten) led 42-30 at halftime then scored the first 21 points of the third quarter. OSU shot 72% from the field in the third and outscored the Illini 33-13.
After making 13 of 18 shots in the third, Ohio State finished 4 of 15 in the fourth and was outscored 24-11. Aaliyah Nye led Illinois (6-15, 1-9) with 25 in the team's seventh straight loss.
Ohio State's win, coupled with Indiana's 72-55 loss at Nebraska and Maryland's 81-69 win over Iowa, essentially created a four-way tie for first place in the conference. The Hoosiers technically hold the top spot by percentage points with a 10-2 record, while OSU, Michigan, and Maryland all sit at 11-3.
Fittingly, the Buckeyes will be at Maryland Thursday night, less than a month removed from their 95-89 shootout win over the Terrapins in Columbus.
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