Elsa Lemmilä Goes 7 for 7 With 12 Rebounds and 4 Blocks as No. 18 Ohio State Beats Mercyhurst 91-57

Photo: Ohio State Athletics. Elsa Lemmilä, official roster photo. Card design: The Dyme.

FINAL, Schottenstein Center, Columbus: No. 18 Ohio State 91, Mercyhurst 57.

Elsa Lemmilä made all seven of her field goals, including her only three-point try, and went 4 of 4 at the line for 19 points. She added 12 rebounds and four blocks in 27 minutes. Ohio State's school recap lists her 12 rebounds and four blocks as season highs and her second double-double of the season. Ohio State shot 35 of 54 (64.8 percent), which the school says is its best mark since November 2023.

Jaloni Cambridge scored 17 on 8-of-11 shooting with seven assists. Ava Watson had 15 points and seven steals, tying her career high. Kylee Kitts scored 12 and Kennedy Cambridge 11. All five Buckeye starters scored in double figures, and Sydney Mobley made it six with 11 off the bench.

Where the 34 points came from

Mercyhurst won one scoring category. The Lakers made 10 of 35 threes to Ohio State's 5 of 14, which is 30 points to 15, by our count. Ohio State won the rest. The Buckeyes made 30 of 40 two-point tries (60 points) to Mercyhurst's 11 of 27 (22 points), and made 16 free throws to Mercyhurst's 5. The 15-point deficit from deep was erased by a 38-point edge on twos and an 11-point edge at the line. 38 plus 11 minus 15 is the 34-point margin, by our count.

Ohio State scored 56 points in the paint to Mercyhurst's 18 and 37 on the fast break to 7. The Buckeyes had 16 steals, forced 21 turnovers and scored 24 points off them. They also rebounded 40-20.

The early separation

Ohio State made its first six shots, according to the AP, and 10 of its first 11, building a 23-9 lead. The Buckeyes finished the first quarter ahead 29-18 after making 12 of 16 shots. They opened the second quarter with 11 straight points, and Mercyhurst missed its first 10 shots of the period, per the AP. Ohio State was 21 of 28 from the field in the first half and led 51-29 at the break. The lead stayed at 21 or more through the second half.

Watson had four steals in the first four minutes, according to Ohio State.

Mercyhurst's side

Sofia Wilson scored 16 on 4-of-6 three-point shooting with five assists. Erica Hall scored 15, and Alena Fusetti added 8 on 3-of-4 shooting with two threes. Mercyhurst turned the ball over 21 times and shot 21 of 62 (33.9 percent).

What it means

Ohio State is 3-0 and hosts No. 2 UConn on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. on FS1. Mercyhurst (1-2) plays at St. Bonaventure on Wednesday.

Sources

• ESPN box score, game 401919942. Final OSU 91, Mercyhurst 57. Quarters OSU 29-22-20-20, Mercyhurst 18-11-16-12. OSU 35-54 FG, 5-14 3PT, 16-21 FT, 40 reb, 18 TO, 16 stl, 56 paint, 37 fast break, 24 pts off TO. Mercyhurst 21-62 FG, 10-35 3PT, 5-5 FT, 20 reb, 21 TO, 18 paint, 7 fast break. Lemmila 19 pts 7-7 FG 1-1 3PT 4-4 FT 12 reb 4 blk 27 min. J. Cambridge 17, 8-11 FG, 7 ast. Watson 15, 7 stl. Kitts 12, K. Cambridge 11, Mobley 11. Wilson 16, 4-6 3PT, 5 ast. Hall 15. Fusetti 8.
• ESPN / Associated Press recap. Nov 8, 2026. First six field goals, 10 of 11, 23-9 lead. Mercyhurst missed first 10 shots of second quarter after 11-0 run. 51-29 halftime. 21 of 28 from the field in first half. Lead never below 21 in second half. Ohio State hosts No. 2 UConn Thursday. Mercyhurst at St. Bonaventure Wednesday.
• Ohio State Athletics recap. Nov 8, 2026. Best shooting mark (nearly 65 percent) since November 2023. All five starters in double figures. Mobley sixth. Watson four steals in first four minutes, tied career-high seven. Lemmila season-high 12 rebounds, second double-double, season-high four blocks. UConn Thursday 6:30 p.m. on FS1.
• Mercyhurst Athletics recap. Nov 8, 2026. Ranking referenced as No. 18 (AP), not No. 16. 10 threes. Wilson 16 pts, four threes, five assists. Hall 15. Fusetti 8, two threes. 29-18 after one, 51-29 at half, 71-45 after three. At St. Bonaventure Wednesday Nov 11, 4:30 p.m.
• Photo: Ohio State Athletics official roster photo of Elsa Lemmilä, used inside the Dyme card.