As Minnesota has done so many times against the Big Ten’s best this season, the Gophers stuck within spitting distance of No. 9 Ohio State on Thursday, and finally forced overtime by finishing the fourth quarter on a remarkable 17-3 run.

At times they played good defense, at times they played good offense, they were strong on the backboards all night, outrebounding the Buckeyes 35-26.

But too many mistakes at key moments added up to another disappointing loss for the Gophers, who remain in the hunt for an NCAA tournament bid but are still looking for a win over a ranked opponent, going 0-6 this season.

Sophie Hart had another strong game in the paint with a career-high 21 points, and Amaya Battle added 17 points and five assists for Minnesota. But Cotie McMahon led all scorers with 25 points as Ohio State survived with an 87-84 overtime victory at Schottenstein Center in Columbus, Ohio.

Through more than four quarters, the Gophers threatened to catch the Buckeyes and earn their first victory of the season against a ranked opponent. But mistakes, or lapses, kept them from ever leading after Mallory Heyer’s 3-pointer gave them a 5-4 lead with 7:47 left in the first quarter.

Gophers junior guard Amaya Battle looks to pass in the first half of Minnesota’s loss to No. 9 Ohio State on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025, in Columbus, Ohio. (Kelly Lynn / Gophers Athletics)

Most of those mistakes resulted in turnovers, especially early, when Ohio State came out of the gates with a full-court press that had the Gophers playing too fast. After the first period, Minnesota had six turnovers that the Buckeyes turned into 11 points but just a 21-17 lead.

In the end, Minnesota (19-7 overall, 7-7 Big Ten) turned the ball over 20 times and were outscored on points off turnovers, 30-23. Ultimately, that was the difference, especially after an inbounds turnover led to the Buckeyes building the slight cushion they needed in overtime.

A steal by Chance Gray resulted in a quick layup by Taylor Thierry that gave Ohio State an 84-80 lead with 42 seconds left. Heyer answered with a 3-pointer to pull the Gophers back within 84-83, but they never caught up.

Thierry and Jaloni Cambridge each scored 10 for Ohio State (21-3, 10-3), and Thierry tied Heyer with a game-high seven rebounds.

Tori McKinney scored two big baskets during the Gophers’ 8-0 run to finish regulation and finished with 10 points, three assists, three rebounds. Grace Grocholski had nine points and six boards, and her 3-pointer from the top of the key sent the game to overtime.

It appeared Ohio State would pull away midway through the fourth quarter, building their lead to as high as 14 points. Instead, the Gophers tightened and chipped away.

Battle’s steal and layup pulled Minnesota within 73-67 with 47 seconds remaining, and the Gophers forced a turnover on the ensuing inbounds play, forcing Buckeyes head coach Kevin McGuff to use a timeout with 44.3 seconds left.

McKinney scored inside off the inbounds pass from Battle to make it 73-69 while taking less than 3 seconds off the clock, and the Buckeyes overthrew Thierry in the inbounds to give Minnesota another chance.

Again, McKinney scored inside on the inbounds play, this time pulling Minnesota to within 73-71. On the other end, Madison Greene made one of two free throws, giving Minnesota the chance to tie it with 18.9 seconds left. After Ohio State called its final timeout, Grocholski nailed a 3–pointer from the top of the key with 8.9 seconds left to make it 74-74.

Ohio State had a chance to win it with 2.3 seconds left, but Grochoski blocked a 3-point attempt as time expired.

The Gophers had one last chance to send the game to double overtime, but Annika Stewart’s 3-point attempt was blocked out of bounds as time expired.

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