March Madness 2022: Jacy Sheldon paces Ohio State to win over LSU

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Jacy Sheldon had no chance to shine on women's college basketball's biggest stage last season because her Ohio State Buckeyes were under a self-imposed postseason ban for a previous coach's recruiting violations.

Before a large, loud and hostile crowd at LSU, Sheldon delivered a stirring, all-court performance that was two years in the making.

Sheldon had 23 points, eight assists and three steals, and sixth seed Ohio State beat No. 3 seed LSU 79-64 in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Monday night.

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Ohio State guard Jacy Sheldon (4) shoots against LSU guard Alexis Morris (45) during the first half of a college basketball game in the second round of the NCAA tournament, Monday, March 21, 2022, in Baton Rouge, La. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)

"If anything, it motivated us," Sheldon said of last-year’s postseason ban. "We all got better during that time and focused on our game and what we needed to improve on. So, I’m proud. And it’s showing. A lot of us have worked really hard."

Taylor Mikesell scored 18 and Rebeka Mikulasikova had 12 points for the Buckeyes (25-6), who seized momentum in the opening quarter and put LSU in the deepest deficit it had face all season at 24 points late in the third quarter.

"It’s tough to play in, but also the most fun to play in — especially for competitors. It’s what you look forward to," Sheldon said of the environment at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. "I’m super proud of our whole team. We stayed together."

LSU (26-6), which overcame a 10-point deficit inside the final five minutes of their first round game against Jackson State two days earlier,