The NCAA Women2019s March Madness is officially underway as the Ohio State Buckeyes, seeded fourth, prepare to face off against the Montana State Bobcats, the 13th seed, in the First Round of the tournament. The game kicks off Friday, March 21, 2025, at 5:30 PM ET in the Schottenstein Center in Columbus, Ohio. Both teams bring impressive records to the court, with the Buckeyes standing at 25-6 and the Bobcats boasting a strong 30-3 mark.
This matchup marks the first-ever meeting between the two universities, a notable point as Montana State enters as the underdog. However, the Bobcats, under head coach Tricia Binford, have garnered plenty of respect this season for their defensive intensity, leading the nation in steals per game with an impressive average of 14.6 and ranking fifth in turnovers forced per game at 23.67. Ohio State is not far behind, having great success with a second-place ranking in turnover margin at 9.2 and tenth in steals per game, averaging 12.3.
Esmeralda Morales, a senior guard for Montana State and the Big Sky Player of the Year, averages 15.3 points and 3.7 assists per game, leading her team. Morales, a transfer from Portland State, has shown an unwavering calm under pressure that is essential for her team's success. 201cWe love the challenge,22 Morales said about the upcoming game. 201cWe just love the atmosphere, and to have this opportunity to go out there and do us, it2019s amazing.22
Ohio State, on the other hand, enjoys a spotless 15-0 record at home this season. Despite their recent setback, a 75-46 loss to UCLA in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals, they have rebounded strong in practices. Cotie McMahon leads the Buckeyes at 16.6 points and 4.6 rebounds per game, making her a definite key player for Ohio State. Jaloni Cambridge, an impressive freshman and co-Big Ten freshman of the year, adds depth with averages of 15.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 3.9 assists. 201cWe have really tried to emphasize the urgency in between the Big Ten Tournament and heading into this matchup,22 said head coach Kevin McGuff. 201cThe biggest key for us is getting more consistent play for closer to 40 minutes than we2019ve had at times this year.22
Montana State made a remarkable journey to the NCAA Tournament after securing both the Big Sky regular season and tournament championships. They edged their arch-rivals, Montana, with a nail-biting 58-57 victory in the tournament final, sealing the Big Sky’s automatic postseason berth. Binford's squad is aiming to make a significant mark after not advancing past the first round in their previous appearances.
This year's Bobcats team is more determined than ever. After wracking up a 30-win season, the focus is clear: to take it one possession at a time. 201cWe know we2019re meant to be here, we've worked super hard this season to be here,22 stated junior forward Marah Dykstra. 201cOur work has shown throughout the year, so we are not coming in scared. We2019re coming in with a confident mentality that we want to go out there, prove some people wrong, and win this thing.22
For the Buckeyes, the pressure weighs heavily on avoiding the same fate as last year when they were eliminated in the second round losing to Duke while holding a No. 2 seed. This year, as the fourth seed, they seem eager to make a better impression. McMahon reinforced this need, stating, 201cThat2019s not something that we want to feel again, not being able to win both (NCAA) games here. It’s not every day where a lot of teams get to do what we do. Hopefully, everybody really understands how big and how serious this is.22
The Buckeyes' focus on maintaining their home court dominance will be crucial. They have a scoring differential of +476, averaging 78.9 points per game while allowing 63.5. Notably, Ohio State demolishes teams at home, averaging 85.8 points per game within the confines of the Schottenstein Center.
This game promises to deliver excitement as both teams share a passion for defense and a mutual goal—the NCAA Tournament. Ohio State has prepared thoroughly, practicing against full-court presses, essential for countering Montana State's high-pressure style. The Buckeyes hope to keep pace with their opponents and exploit their depth to secure a win.
As March Madness resumes, fans can expect to witness what both teams bring to the table as they enter the tournament with something to prove. Tip-off for this highly anticipated matchup between the Ohio State Buckeyes and Montana State Bobcats is set for 5:30 PM ET. The winner will advance to meet either Tennessee or South Florida in the following round.
