Cambridge leads Ohio State past UIC in season opener
The Buckeyes shot UIC to 24% from the field in an 81-34 win in Columbus.
By Takeshi Faure ·
Jaloni Cambridge scored 22 points and grabbed nine rebounds as No. 18 Ohio State defeated UIC 81-34 on Monday night. The victory marked the season opener for both programs. Elsa Lemmila contributed 15 points and 11 rebounds for the Buckeyes.
Ohio State entered the game with eight returning players. Five of those athletes started at least 16 games last season and accounted for 75% of the team's scoring. Cambridge became the second player in program history to score 800 points in a single season during the 2025-26 campaign.
The game started close. UIC and Ohio State were tied at 7 points with 5:33 remaining in the first quarter. Ohio State then outscored the Flames 20-0 to end the period. The Buckeyes extended their lead with runs of 11-0 and 12-0 during the second quarter. They held a 50-13 lead at halftime.
Sydney Mobley added 14 points from the bench. Kennedy Cambridge recorded 10 points and three steals. She broke the program record for steals in a single season with 130 in the 2025-26 season. Julia Coleman led UIC with 10 points. The Flames were ranked sixth in the Missouri Valley Conference preseason poll.
The Ohio State defense limited UIC to 24% shooting from the field. The Flames made 14 of 58 attempts. They shot 10% from three-point range, making 2 of 20 shots.
UIC plays at Robert Morris on Thursday. Ohio State continues a six-game homestand on Thursday against Central Michigan.
