Freshman Jaloni Cambridge scores 31, leads No. 14 Ohio State to season-opening victory
The Ohio State women's basketball team opened the 2024-25 season with a dominant victory over Cleveland State on Tuesday, winning 104-69 at Value City Arena. At the center of the No. 14 Buckeyes' success was freshman Jaloni Cambridge.
ESPN's No. 2 recruit from the class of 2024, Cambridge finished her first college game with 31 points and five steals. Cambridge was one of six players making their Buckeyes debut, and only four returning players appeared for Ohio State.
"I didn't really have any nerves. I was just excited to be here," Cambridge said. "I just got to my spots. My teammates allowed me to get to my right spots, and just had confidence in me."
The Buckeyes' starting lineup included Cambridge and transfers Chance Gray and Ajae Petty. Veterans Cotie McMahon and Taylor Thierry also started.
Less than 52 seconds into the game, Cambridge scored her first points with a mid-range jumper.
Graduate forward Petty followed up with a transition layup to take the lead from Cleveland State, who opened the game with a 3-pointer.
Standing at 6 feet 3, Petty was brought to Ohio State to help with its rebounding struggles. Petty had 8 points and six rebounds on Tuesday.
From Petty's basket at the 2:28 mark, the Buckeyes had the advantage.
Ohio State's new starting lineup looked comfortable running the fast-paced, transition-forward style of play that Kevin McGuff has made a staple in his more than decade as coach.
"With this being my first time, it's something new," Cambridge said. "But just using my speed, along with my teammates, it's going to get better for us."
After 10 minutes of play, Ohio State was ahead 24-9. Ten of the Buckeyes' points were scored off Cleveland State's 10 turnovers in the first.
Cambridge finished the first quarter with 8 points, going a 4 for 4 from the field with four steals. To open the second, she hit back-to-back 3-point baskets.
The efforts of Cambridge and McMahon led Ohio State to a 42-24 halftime lead.
McMahon, the Buckeyes' top returning scorer from last season, was honored before the game for reaching her 1,000th career point last year.
McMahon opened her junior campaign with a jumper from beyond the arc.
Her 3-point shooting was an area McMahon said she had focused on improving during the offseason. She finished the game with 17 points, 12 coming from behind the 3-point line.
The Buckeyes outscored the Vikings 33-27 in the third quarter behind Cambridge, who nearly doubled her point total with 12.
"We were fine on offense, but we were sloppy defensively," McGuff said. "Just need to be more disciplined in our coverage and some of the things we were trying to do with this game. So, I think that's an area where we've got to get a lot more consistent."
The Vikings were led by Mickayla Perdue's 29 points.
Oregon transfer Gray went 0 for 4 from the field in her first three quarters as a Buckeye but finished as the fourth quarter's leading scorer with 8 points.
"I thought she got some good looks early on, but didn't go in," McGuff said. "So, I was happy to see her make some shots and hopefully walk out with some confidence."
The Buckeyes finished easily ahead of the Vikings in nearly every statistical category – except for rebounding. Ohio State grabbed 39 rebounds compared to Cleveland State's 36.
It will be a week until the Buckeyes' next game, when they take on Charlotte on Nov. 12 at Valley City Arena. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio State women's basketball gets 35-point win over Cleveland State
