No. 3 Ohio St beats No. 6 UNC 71-69, advances to Sweet 16
Ohio State guard Jacy Sheldon (4) is hugged by guard Hevynne Bristow (3) after Ohio State defeated North Carolina in a second-round college basketball game in the women's NCAA Tournament in Columbus, Ohio, Monday, March 20, 2023. Ohio State defeated North Carolina 71-69. Credit: AP/Michael Conroy
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Jacy Sheldon made a tiebreaking jumper in the lane with 1.8 seconds left to lift No. 3 Ohio State to a 71-69 win over No. 6 seed North Carolina on Monday and help the Buckeyes advance to the Sweet 16 for the second straight season.
With the game tied, Sheldon took the pass from Eboni Walker and floated in the game-winning score. North Carolina had one final chance, but turned it over with a second remaining.
Ohio State (27-7) saw its 12-point lead with 7:02 to go erased as the Tar Heels went on a 13-2 run midway through the fourth quarter. The Tar Heels did most of that run without star Deja Kelly, who exited midway through the final quarter with a leg injury. She went to the locker room, but returned to the court a short time later.
Trailing 66-63, Kelly made two free throws before Paulina Paris made a layup in transition to give the Tar Heels (22-11) its first lead of the game with 2:09 left.
Sheldon scored to give the Buckeyes the lead back with 1:07 left. She added a free throw 29 seconds later to make it a two-point game.
Kelly, who finished with 22 points to lead North Carolina, hit a jumper to tie the game at 69 with 9 seconds left.
Ohio State led the entirety of the first half, including by as many as nine points in the first quarter, on 46% shooting. Taylor Mikesell went 3-of-6 from beyond the arc in the first half.
Ohio State guard Jacy Sheldon (4) hits a game-winning shot over North Carolina guard Deja Kelly (25) and guard Alyssa Ustby (1) in the second half of a second-round college basketball game in the women's NCAA Tournament in Columbus, Ohio, Monday, March 20, 2023. Ohio State defeated North Carolina 71-69. Credit: AP/Michael Conroy
Sheldon finished with 16 points, Walker added 15 and Cotie McMahon scored 14. Taylor Mikesell had a team-high 17.
BIG PICTURE
North Carolina: The Tar Heels allowed an opposing team to shoot at least 50% for the third time all season and first time since December. North Carolina allowed the Buckeyes to shoot 54.2% in the second half.
Ohio State: The Buckeyes have made second-half comebacks in all four of their postseason victories, including a 24-point resurgence that broke the Big Ten Tournament record March 4. Ohio State advances to the Sweet 16 for the fourth time since the 2015-16 season.
Ohio State head coach Kevin McGuff celebrates following a second-round college basketball game against North Carolina in the women's NCAA Tournament in Columbus, Ohio, Monday, March 20, 2023. Ohio State defeated North Carolina 71-69. Credit: AP/Michael Conroy
UP NEXT
Ohio State will play the winner of No. 2 seed UConn and No. 7 seed Baylor in the Seattle 3 Regional.
