Thierry scores 16 as balanced Ohio State beats Montana State 71-51 in women’s NCAA Tournament

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Ohio State guard Chance Gray, right, looks to score as Montana State guard Esmeralda Morales, left, defends during the fourth quarter of the first round of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Friday, March 21, 2025, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Joe Maiorana)

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Ohio State forward Taylor Thierry (2) drives to the basket as Montana State forward Marah Dykstra (32) defends during the fourth quarter of the first round of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Friday, March 21, 2025, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Joe Maiorana)

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Ohio State forward Taylor Thierry (2) goes up to score over Montana State forward Marah Dykstra, bottom, during the fourth quarter in the first round of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Friday, March 21, 2025, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Joe Maiorana)

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Ohio State forward Ajae Petty (1) looks to score as Montana State forward Addison Harris (33) defends during the fourth quarter of the first round of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Friday, March 21, 2025, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Joe Maiorana)

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Ohio State forward Cotie McMahon celebrates during the second quarter against Montana State in the first round of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Friday, March 21, 2025, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Joe Maiorana)

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Ohio State forward Ajae Petty (1) controls the ball as Montana State forward Addison Harris (33) defends during the fourth quarter of the first round of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Friday, March 21, 2025, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Joe Maiorana)

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Ohio State forward Ajae Petty, right, controls the ball as Montana State forward Addison Harris, left, defends during the fourth quarter of the first round of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Friday, March 21, 2025, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Joe Maiorana)

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Taylor Thierry had 16 points, and No. 4 seed Ohio State used a balanced attack to beat Montana State 71-51 on Friday in the first round of the women’s NCAA Tournament.

Ohio State shot 50.9% from the field, and each of its starters scored in double figures. Cotie McMahon and Chance Gray each had 15 points, and Jaloni Cambridge finished with 12. Ajae Petty had 11 points and seven rebounds.

Next up for the Buckeyes (26-6) is fifth-seeded Tennessee, which advanced with a 101-66 victory over South Florida.

Esmeralda Morales scored 20 points and Natalie Picton had 12 for No. 13 seed Montana State (30-4), the champions of the Big Sky.

Bothered by several close calls that went against his team, Ohio State coach Kevin McGuff received a technical foul with 5:23 left in the first half. Picton hit the two technical free throws and then converted a layup for a 27-23 lead.

But Ohio State responded with nine straight points to end the half. McMahon had five of those points as OSU grabbed a 32-27 lead at the break. It was part of a larger 32-3 run that spanned 12 minutes of the second and third quarters.

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“I think we just got back to being aggressive in the press, not really being stagnant,” Gray said. “That’s our best basketball. Getting steals and converting the steals, I think that’s what kind of got us going. We talked in the huddle. They went on their run, and it was time for us to go on our run.”

Asked about his technical, McGuff responded: “Yeah, there were just disagreements on things that were going on out there. So I voiced my displeasure and that’s about it.”

Gray made three straight 3s to open the second half and increase Ohio State’s lead to 41-27.

“I was just kind of ready to shoot whenever my teammates got me the ball,” Gray said. “We were moving the ball really well. That’s something we’ve been emphasizing last couple weeks.”

Takeaways

Montana State: The Bobcats set a school record for wins this year for Tricia Binford, who wrapped her 20th season as the team’s coach.

“They came out in that third quarter and really jumped on us super fast,” Binford said. “It was like in the blink of an eye. Their pressure’s great, they’re super fast, and I want to wish them the best. They had a great game.”

Ohio State: The Buckeyes are hosting NCAA opening weekend action for the third time in four years. They won their tournament opener for the eighth consecutive time dating to a first-round loss in 2012.

Key stats

Ohio State enjoyed a 44-14 advantage in scoring in the paint and a 21-2 margin in fast-break scoring. Montana State committed 26 turnovers.

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