Ohio State guard Jacy Sheldon has been battling a leg injury most of the season, but she was back in action Friday as the Buckeyes edged the Michigan Wolverines 81-79 in the Big Ten women's basketball tournament quarterfinals at Target Center in Minneapolis.
Sheldon, a senior who was ranked No. 11 on ESPN's Top 25 Players list heading into the season, averaged 19.7 points and 4.2 assists in 2021-22, when she was an all-Big Ten first-team selection.
She played five games in November, but had made just one appearance since then, on Feb. 5 against Maryland, as she dealt with the injury.
The Buckeyes started the season 19-0 but are 5-6 since then. Still, they earned the No. 4 seed in the Big Ten tournament, and Sheldon came back to help them defeat rival Michigan, the No. 5 seed.
Sheldon played 13 minutes and had five points and two assists.
Her last basket was particularly big, though: She hit a 3-pointer with 1:21 remaining to break a 76-76 tie. The Buckeyes held on for the victory, led by freshman Cotie McMahon's 28 points and 12 rebounds.
"Jacy came in and gave us some big moments," Buckeyes coach Kevin McGuff said. "Cotie was spectacular."
Ohio State will face the top-seeded Indiana Hoosiers in Saturday's semifinal.