'As we’ve had just more time, I think she’s feeling more comfortable. It was a long wait between games for the Buckeyes, but having Sheldon able to play more minutes is worth the wait for Ohio State. McGuff expects Sheldon to play a larger role in the NCAA Tournament than she did in the conference tournament, and the two weeks between games have given Sheldon additional time to get prepared. 30, which was the last game she played before missing more than two months with a lower leg injury. Ohio State's dramatic, 24-point comeback over the Hoosiers in the semifinals was fueled in part by senior point guard Jacy Sheldon, who scored 12 points - her most since scoring 22 on Nov.

But the ugly loss to Iowa in the championship game brought another lesson to learn before the NCAA Tournament. The Buckeyes started to rebound from the slump in the final week of the regular season and rode that momentum into the Big Ten Tournament. I think that adds a little bit extra to it, just focusing on what’s at hand.'Īfter starting the season 19-0, Ohio State hit a skid in late January and dropped six of its last 10 regular-season games. 'You can’t take for granted walking into this facility, having practice or playing a game, because it could be your last. 'You really have to take it one day at a time,' Mikesell said. But Ohio State's win over LSU in the second round also is a reminder that the home team is by no means guaranteed to advance.įor senior guard Taylor Mikesell, playing in her final NCAA Tournament, there is a particular emphasis on not taking anything for granted. Playing at home adds a welcome degree of familiarity for the Buckeyes, who faced a challenging environment in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, last year.

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