Ohio State’s Cotie McMahon drove strong to the rim, withstood a foul, then flipped the ball up and through the basket before landing on the Xfinity Center floor. She immediately popped up, let out a shout and stomped toward center court, her Kobe Bryant sneakers — one pink, one lime-green — standing out amid all the red and white.
The ensuing free throw careened off the rim, but the Buckeyes tracked it down to extend the possession. They got off another shot, then another and another. The ball finally went in on the fourth attempt, a McMahon layup, which extended the visitors’ lead to nine points.