Ohio State Women’s Basketball Aims to Break NCAA Tournament Home-Court Curse
COLUMBUS, Ohio — For the Ohio State women’s basketball team, the Schottenstein Center has been anything but a fortress in recent NCAA Tournament appearances. Despite the comfort of playing at home, the Buckeyes have stumbled in the second round in each of the last two years. This Saturday, they’ll look to rewrite the script as they kick off their postseason campaign against No. 14 seed Howard.
The third-seeded Buckeyes (26-7) enter the tournament with momentum, having climbed from an unranked start to finish 11th in the final Associated Press Top 25 poll. Head coach Kevin McGuff credits his team’s growth to a heightened focus on preparation and attention to detail—qualities he hopes will carry them deep into March Madness.
“Our preparation has been as strong as it’s been in years,” McGuff said. “That’s what we’ll need to lean on this week.”
Ohio State’s recent tournament disappointments include a second-round loss to Duke last year as a No. 2 seed and a defeat to Tennessee in 2023 as a No. 4 seed. This year, the bracket presents another formidable challenge. If the Buckeyes advance past Howard, they’ll face either No. 6 seed Notre Dame or No. 11 Fairfield on Monday, with a spot in the Sweet 16 on the line.
Notre Dame, a perennial powerhouse, has reached the Sweet 16 in its last 14 tournament appearances. Fairfield, meanwhile, boasts one of the nation’s most potent three-point offenses, leading Division I with 11.4 made threes per game.
Guards Take Center Stage
The Columbus Regional will showcase some of the country’s most dynamic guards. Ohio State’s Jaloni Cambridge, a second-team All-American, ranks seventh nationally in scoring at 22.8 points per game. Her sister, Kennedy Cambridge, is a defensive standout with 128 steals this season.
Notre Dame’s Hannah Hidalgo, another second-team All-American, is a two-time ACC Player of the Year and ranks third in Division I scoring (25.2 PPG). She also leads the nation with 173 steals, making her a nightmare for opposing offenses.
Fairfield’s Kaety L’Amoreaux, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Player of the Year, adds to the regional’s star power, averaging 17.6 points and sinking 73 three-pointers this season.
Howard’s Historic Opportunity
Howard (26-7), making its seventh NCAA Tournament appearance, is still chasing its first-ever March Madness victory. The Bison are led by MEAC Player of the Year Zennia Thomas, a Cleveland native who transferred from Kentucky. Thomas averages 15.2 points and 8.0 rebounds per game.
“It’s going to be a family reunion,” Thomas said of playing in Ohio.
Howard’s strong three-point defense (26.1% opponent shooting) will be tested against an Ohio State team that has hit at least 10 threes in seven games since January.
Notre Dame’s Resilient Run
Notre Dame (22-10) enters the tournament on a hot streak, winning nine of its last 11 games. After a midseason slump that saw them projected as a ninth or 10th seed, the Fighting Irish have surged, averaging 74.8 points while shooting 45.9% from the field.
“We’ve faced a lot of adversity this year,” said guard Cassandre Prosper. “Being in a different environment, we get to show how resilient we are.”
Fairfield’s Three-Point Barrage
Fairfield (28-4) has made history with its three-point shooting, sinking 364 threes this season—the 14th-most in Division I women’s basketball history. The Stags also boast three players—Janelle Brown, Kaety L’Amoreaux, and Meghan Andersen—who have each scored 1,000 career points.
“We’re a unique matchup because all five players can score,” said coach Carly Thibault-Dudonis. “We’re not just high-volume shooters—we’re efficient.”
As the tournament tips off, Ohio State hopes to finally capitalize on its home-court advantage and make a deep run. For Howard, Notre Dame, and Fairfield, the Columbus Regional offers a chance to make their own marks on March Madness.
— Reported by Nexio News
