Ohio State star forward Cotie McMahon stepped up to the free throw line midway through the third quarter.

Her team was already down 61-25 when McMahon airballed her first attempt.

The remaining Ohio State fans attempted to rally their season-long leading scorer with cheers. But many Buckeyes fans had already left the stadium at that point.

McMahon – who had only six points on the day on 3-for-11 shooting – responded by bouncing her second attempt off the front of the rim.

No. 2 seed UCLA women’s basketball (29-2, 16-2 Big Ten) never lost its lead to No. 3 seed Ohio State (25-6, 13-5), defeating the Buckeyes 75-46 at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Bruins will play the Trojans on Sunday – their third bout this season – to battle for the Big Ten tournament crown.

“I thought today was just a different mentality,” junior center Lauren Betts said. “Everyone just decided to dig deep. Obviously a lot of people are sore, a lot of people are tired. But it doesn’t matter at this point because we’re trying to win games.”

UCLA took control of the game quickly with a 14-point lead at the end of the first quarter. Seven different Bruins scored while their defense shut down the Buckeye offense, which was ranked as the second best unit in the Big Ten prior to the contest – averaging 80.7 points per game this season. The Buckeyes were held to a fraction of their average, including only 30 points through the first three quarters. 

UCLA’s first quarter results differed tremendously from its first matchup with Ohio State during the regular season at Pauley Pavilion, where UCLA held only a two-point lead at the quarter’s end. The Bruins ultimately came away with the 65-52 win against the then-No. 8 Buckeyes.

UCLA continued to dominate in the second quarter and entered halftime with a 23-point lead, with junior guard Gabriela Jaquez leading the way. Jaquez led the team with 12 points on 5-for-5 shooting – including 2-for-2 from beyond the arc – surpassing her season average of 10 points per game in the first half for the second consecutive game. Friday’s quarterfinal match marked Jaquez’s season-high scoring, as she put up 23 points in UCLA’s win over No. 10 seed Nebraska.

In the meantime, UCLA’s defense held Ohio State’s offense to a mere 21 first half points, forcing the Buckeyes to convert only 30% of its field goals, compared to their game-average 46.7% and one 3-point shot. 

The Bruins, on the other hand, shot 67% from both the field and from 3-point range – a stark contrast to Friday’s quarterfinal match when they shot a mere 20.7% from deep. Though the Bruins turned the ball over nine times in the first half, they outrebounded the Buckeyes 21-9 and outscored them 22-4 in the paint.

“We knew we had to play really focused and execute, and I have tons of respect for them, especially the way they defend,” said coach Cori Close. “We had some really good success versus their press early and made them take it off and I think that really was a huge piece for us.”

Ohio State – who is also the 13th ranked team in the country according to the AP poll – continued to struggle offensively in the third quarter, scoring only nine points.

After scoring zero points and missing all six of her 3-point attempts on Friday, junior guard Londynn Jones enjoyed an improved game against Ohio State, going 6-for-12 from deep and adding 22 total points for the team. The 5-foot-3 guard contributed her season-high marks in both points and 3-pointers in the contest. 

“I try not to really pay attention to the game before,” Jones said. “I just stay focused on what I can do and to contribute in any way I can moving forward. So whatever the team needs, I’m going to try my best to do it.”

Jones broke the program record of single-season 3-point shots made last season with 87. 

The Bruins will play three games in three days as part of the tournament. Multiple starters were able to rest after seeing plenty of minutes on Friday, with Jaquez, junior guard Kiki Rice and Betts playing a mere 15 minutes. Despite their limited minutes, they put up a combined 32 points on 15-for-18 shooting.

“I think the way that our team played today,” Betts said. “It’s just an opportunity for other players to get their moment. So it’s not about me. It’s honestly about, you know, what the team needs at that moment.”

With USC on the docket for tomorrow, Close said that she wanted to play the Trojans again. 

“Obviously, they’re our only two losses,” Close said. “Obviously, they’re our crosstown rival. Obviously, this is for a conference tournament championship. There’s just so many levels to it. But if you’re a real competitor, you want to be tested against the very best.”