Noon at No. 11 Ohio State • BTN Plus, 96.7-FM

Buckeyes can score and defend

Gophers update: The COVID-19-induced postponement of Thursday's game with Michigan was a blessing in disguise for the Gophers (5-8, 4-7 Big Ten), who have two players — guards Jasmine Powell and Gadiva Hubbard — battling ankle sprains. Powell sprained her ankle the day before Sunday's loss to Iowa but played 34 minutes anyway, extending her streak of having scored in double figures in every game this season. She should be OK for this game, but Hubbard remains questionable. Powell is 14th in the conference in scoring (16.2) and second in assists (6.0). Sara Scalia has scored in double figures in seven straight games, averaging 17.7 points and shooting 26-for-58 (44.8%) on three-pointers.

Buckeyes update: Ohio State (11-2, 7-2) had an impressive run of three wins against three ranked teams (Maryland, Michigan and Indiana) ended at Northwestern last Monday but rebounded with a victory over Iowa — its second vs. the Hawkeyes this season — on Thursday. The Buckeyes are the third-highest-scoring team in the Big Ten (83.1). Fifth in shooting percentage defense overall (38.1), the Buckeyes are the best in the conference defending three-pointers (opponents shoot 23.5% ). The Gophers are third in the conference in threes per game (7.8). Ohio State has five players averaging between 11.6 and 17 points. G Jacy Sheldon is averaging 17 points. F Dorka Juhasz is averaging 15 points and 11.3 rebounds.

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Kent Youngblood