Ohio State women’s basketball set for Arkansas State Red Wolves

Jordan Boone
Tue, 09 Dec 2014 05:21:01 +0000
Basketball, Sports, Ameryst Alston, basketball, Buckeyes, Kelsey Mitchell, Kevin McGuff, ohio state, osu

OSU junior guard Ameryst Alston (14) attempts to dribble past Winthrop redshirt-sophomore guard Aliyah Kilpatrick (1) during a Dec. 7 game at the Schottenstein Center. OSU won, 66-52. Credit: Ed Momot / For The Lantern

Freshman forward Alexa Hart (22) attempts to score during a game against Winthrop on Dec. 7 at the Schottenstein Center. OSU won, 66-52. Credit: Ed Momot / For The Lantern

OSU freshman guard Kelsey Mitchell (3) attempts a jump shot as Winthrop redshirt-sophomore guard Aliyah Kilpatrick (1) contests during a Dec. 7 game at the Schottenstein Center. OSU won, 66-52. Credit: Ed Momot / For The Lantern

Winthrop sophomore guard/forward Erica Williams (33) dribbles up the court during a Dec. 7 game against OSU at the Schottenstein Center. OSU won, 66-52. Credit: Ed Momot / For The Lantern

Winthrop junior forward/center Schaquilla Nunn (4) attempts a shot over OSU freshman forward Alexa Hart (22) on Dec. 7 during a game at the Schottenstein Center. OSU won, 66-52. Credit: Ed Momot / For The Lantern

Freshman guard Asia Doss (20) floats the ball toward the hoop during a game on Dec. 7 against Winthrop at the Schottenstein Center. OSU won, 66-52. Credit: Ed Momot / For The Lantern

Junior guard Cait Craft (13) dribbles down the court during a game against Winthrop on Dec. 7 at the Schottenstein Center. OSU won, 66-52. Credit: Ed Momot / For The Lantern

Freshman forward Alexa Hart (22) attempts to score during a game against Winthrop on Dec. 7 at the Schottenstein Center. OSU won, 66-52. Credit: Ed Momot / For The Lantern

OSU freshman guard Kelsey Mitchell (3) wrestles Winthrop sophomore guard/forward Erica Williams (33) for possession during a Dec. 7 game at the Schottenstein Center. OSU won, 66-52. Credit: Ed Momot / For The Lantern

Junior guard Ameryst Alston dribbles along the baseline during a game on Dec. 7 against Winthrop at the Schottenstein Center. OSU won, 66-52. Credit: Ed Momot / For The Lantern

The Ohio State women’s basketball team will look to improve on its vapid defense as it gets ready to face Arkansas State on Thursday.

The Buckeyes are 5-4 on the season following a double-digit win at home against Winthrop (S.C.) on Sunday afternoon. Freshman guard Kelsey Mitchell said the team isn’t satisfied with its current record and will try to bring as much intensity as it can for the game against the Red Wolves.

“We need as much energy as possible,” Mitchell said. “We need all the energy we can to pick up this process so some of our chemistry can come together. We’re 5-4, who wants to be 5-4 right now?”

OSU has allowed its opponents to score 77.4 points per game this season, which ranks 328th among Division I programs. OSU coach Kevin McGuff said that while the Buckeyes have made strides in improving on defense, they still have room to grow before they face Arkansas State.

“I think just try to be more consistent,” McGuff said. “We played more man, I’d like to see us be able to do that but we still need some work.”

Mitchell scored 17 of OSU’s 26 points in the first half in the game against Winthrop. While Mitchell leads the team in scoring and ranks third in the nation with 26.2 points per game, McGuff was insistent that OSU can’t rely on Mitchell to be the main source of offense.

“It can’t and it shouldn’t and it doesn’t need to be,” McGuff said.

Junior guard Ameryst Alston said the team will look to spread the ball across the floor in an effort to get everyone involved and tire out the opposition.

“It just comes with moving the ball and just not being stagnant on offense,” Alston said. “Trying to kind of get them tired playing the whole possession of the game.”

Mitchell said the team will need to remain optimistic and remember lessons learned from practice in order to be successful against the Red Wolves.

“Stay positive,” Mitchell said. “Stay grateful for things that we have and just keep working hard in practice every day doing the things we’re supposed to do. Doing things the right way and (the way) coaches want us to do.”

The Buckeyes are scheduled to play Arkansas State on Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Schottenstein Center.