Florida Gulf Coast Eagles at Ohio State Buckeyes

· GULF COAST SHOWCASE

Florida Gulf Coast Eagles

2-3, 1-2 Away

<span class="badge bg-danger" style="font-size: 1.2em; margin: 5px 0;">Final</span>
66 - 79

Ohio State Buckeyes

4-1, 3-1 Home

No. 8 Ohio State pulls away late, beats FGCU 79-66

Those fans will be free to watch a certain football game Saturday afternoon.

"I've been at Ohio State three years and I never got a chance to experience `The Game," Mitchell said. "Hopefully we can give back, watch them, cheer them on."

Mitchell got better as the game went on, still having a big night despite not getting her first basket until the second quarter. She had 19 of her 25 points after halftime.

"She's going to be the first pick," FGCU coach Karl Smesko said. "Whenever she comes out she'll be the first pick in the WNBA draft. She's that good."

Shayla Cooper finished with 16 points and 14 rebounds for the Buckeyes. Stephanie Mavunga added 13 points and 12 rebounds for Ohio State.

"I thought it was a great challenge for our team," Ohio State coach Kevin McGuff said.

Taylor Gradinjan and Nasrin Ulel each scored 13 for Florida Gulf Coast (2-3), which trailed by one at halftime and was still within five points early in the fourth.

"I'm a little bit mixed emotions right now," Smesko said. "I'm disappointed because we didn't work as well together as I thought we should of. But then at the same time I saw us do some things well and move in a positive direction."

Mitchell had five of the 11 points in the decisive run for Ohio State, starting it with a layup and adding a 3-pointer. The Buckeyes held a 52-31 rebounding edge, 25-11 in that department after halftime.

"Knowing we were in Florida, playing a team like Florida Gulf Coast, we could never get comfortable," Mitchell said.

BIG PICTURE

FGCU: Gradinjan left the court briefly in the first half while getting her left leg bandaged. She also had to be taken out early in the fourth quarter, favoring the leg slightly. ... The Eagles need only look at last season when figuring out how to overcome a slow start. They were 1-2 last year and finished 33-6.

HOMECOMINGS, SORT OF

FGCU: Either No. 11 Syracuse or George Washington on Saturday.

Ohio State: Either No. 11 Syracuse or George Washington on Saturday.

TV Channel: Eagles vs Buckeyes 2021 College Basketball, week 3, is broadcasted on .
Online streaming: Sign up for Fubo.

Recent Plays

4th 0:00	End of Game	66 - 79
4th 0:21	Makayla Waterman Defensive Rebound.	66 - 79
4th 0:21	Nasrin Ulel missed Three Point Jumper.	66 - 79
4th 0:24	Makayla Waterman made Free Throw.	66 - 79
4th 0:24	Ohio State Deadball Team Rebound.	66 - 78

Statistics

FGCU		OSU
20-67	FG	29-59
30	Field Goal %	49
12-37	3PT	5-19
32	Three Point %	26
14-20	FT	16-23
70	Free Throw %	70
31	Rebounds	52
7	Offensive Rebounds	8
24	Defensive Rebounds	44
14	Assists	9
1	Steals	2
1	Blocks	7
6	Turnovers	11
0	Team Turnovers	0
6	Total Turnovers	11
0	Technical Fouls	1
0	Total Technical Fouls	1
11	Points Off Turnovers	2
10	Fast Break Points	10
16	Points in Paint	38
21	Fouls	20
1	Largest Lead	16

Game Information

Venue: Hertz Arena

Location: Estero, FL
Capacity:

2025-26 Atlantic Sun Conference Standings

TEAM	CONF	GB	OVER
Eastern Kentucky	15-3	-	25-9
Jacksonville	13-5	2	24-9
Central Arkansas	13-5	2	21-11
Stetson	12-6	3	20-12
North Alabama	11-7	4	17-14
Florida Gulf Coast	11-7	4	16-16
West Georgia	10-8	5	18-13
Austin Peay	8-10	7	19-14
Lipscomb	7-11	8	10-20
Queens University	4-14	11	10-20
North Florida	4-14	11	9-21
Bellarmine	0-18	15	2-30

2025-26 Big Ten Conference Standings

TEAM	CONF	GB	OVER
UCLA	18-0	-	37-1
Michigan	15-3	3	28-7
Iowa	15-3	3	27-7
Ohio State	13-5	5	27-8
Minnesota	13-5	5	24-9
Maryland	11-7	7	24-9
Michigan State	11-7	7	23-9
Washington	10-8	8	22-11
Illinois	9-9	9	22-12
USC	9-9	9	18-14
Oregon	8-10	10	23-13
Nebraska	7-11	11	19-13
Indiana	6-12	12	18-14
Wisconsin	5-13	13	16-18
Purdue	5-13	13	13-17
Penn State	4-14	14	11-18
Northwestern	2-16	16	8-21
Rutgers	1-17	17	9-20

Full Standings