Ohio State guard Braxtin Miller (10) shoots a basket as Iowa's McKenna Warnock (14) and center Monika Czinano (25) defend during an NCAA college basketball game Monday, Jan. 31, 2022, in Iowa City, Iowa. (Joseph Cress/Iowa City Press-Citizen via AP)
The Associated Press
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) - Taylor Mikesell scored 24 points, Jacy Sheldon had 18 and No. 23 Ohio State outlasted No. 21 Iowa 92-88 on Monday night.
Iowa's Caitlin Clark scored 43 points, one shy of her career high, but missed a 3-pointer that could have tied the score in the final minute. She made seven 3-pointers and also had seven assists and seven turnovers. Monika Czinano had 23 points, making 11 of 13 shots, and grabbed nine rebounds for the Hawkeyes (14-5).
Rebeka Mikulasikova scored 17 points for Ohio State (16-4) and Braxtin Miller had 10 points.
There were two ties and seven lead changes in the fourth quarter. Three times a bucket by Sheldon gave Ohio State the lead and the Buckeyes took the lead for good, 88-87, on a jumper by Tanaya Beacham with just under a minute to go.
Clark missed a jumper with 25 seconds left and Iowa was forced to foul. Mikesell made two free throws for a 90-87 lead and Clark missed a 3-pointer for Iowa's last chance at a tie.
The game featured three of the nation's top 12 scorers in No. 1 Clark (25.5 ppg), No. 10 Sheldon (20.9) and No. 12 Czinano (20.6). Mikesell, Ohio State's second leading scorer, averages 18.9 ppg. In one five-minute stretch, the foursome combined to score the first 20 points of the second quarter.
On a night when four of the Big Ten's five ranked teams played each other, Iowa missed out on a chance to keep pace with the leaders. No. 6 Michigan defeated No. 5 Indiana 65-50 to knock the Hoosiers out of sole possession of first place. Michigan now leads at 10-1, followed by Indiana (6-1) and Iowa (8-2) Ohio State improved to 8-3 and No. 17 Maryland (7-3) did not play.
Iowa, which has not yet faced Michigan or Indiana, plays at Wisconsin on Thursday and at Michigan next Monday.
Ohio State has the rest of the week off and will host Rutgers next Monday.
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Iowa guard Caitlin Clark, second from right, reacts after drawing a foul during an NCAA college basketball game against Ohio State, Monday, Jan. 31, 2022, in Iowa City, Iowa. (Joseph Cress/Iowa City Press-Citizen via AP)
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Iowa head coach Lisa Bluder reacts during an NCAA college basketball game against Ohio State, Monday, Jan. 31, 2022, in Iowa City, Iowa. (Joseph Cress/Iowa City Press-Citizen via AP)
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Iowa guard Caitlin Clark (22) reacts after making a 3-point basket against Ohio State during an NCAA college basketball game Monday, Jan. 31, 2022, in Iowa City, Iowa. (Joseph Cress/Iowa City Press-Citizen via AP)
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Ohio State head coach Kevin McGuff reacts during an NCAA college basketball game against Iowa, Monday, Jan. 31, 2022, in Iowa City, Iowa. (Joseph Cress/Iowa City Press-Citizen via AP)
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Iowa center Monika Czinano drives to the basket as Ohio State guard Rikki Harris (1) and forward Rebeka Mikulasikova (23) defend during an NCAA college basketball game Monday, Jan. 31, 2022, in Iowa City, Iowa. (Joseph Cress/Iowa City Press-Citizen via AP)
The Associated Press
Ohio State forward Rebeka Mikulasikova (23) makes a 3-point basket as Iowa center Monika Czinano (25) and guard Caitlin Clark (22) defend during an NCAA college basketball game Monday, Jan. 31, 2022, in Iowa City, Iowa. (Joseph Cress/Iowa City Press-Citizen via AP)
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Ohio State players celebrate with head coach Kevin McGuff, left, during an NCAA college basketball game against Iowa Monday, Jan. 31, 2022, in Iowa City, Iowa. (Joseph Cress/Iowa City Press-Citizen via AP)
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Ohio State guard Jacy Sheldon (4) makes a free throw during an NCAA college basketball game against Iowa, Monday, Jan. 31, 2022, in Iowa City, Iowa. (Joseph Cress/Iowa City Press-Citizen via AP)
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Iowa's McKenna Warnock, bottom center, is checked by an athletic trainer after an NCAA college basketball game against Iowa State, Monday, Jan. 31, 2022, in Iowa City, Iowa. (Joseph Cress/Iowa City Press-Citizen via AP)
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