Mercedes Russell Powers Lady Vols Past Ohio State Into the Elite Eight

March 25, 2016

Rick Nyman,

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) – Mercedes Russell scored a career-high 25 points and grabbed 15 rebounds and Tennessee continued its surprising run in the women’s NCAA Tournament with a 78-62 victory over Ohio State in a Sioux Falls Regional semifinal Friday night.

The Lady Vols (22-13), who upset No. 2 seed Arizona State last Sunday, beat the No. 3 Buckeyes (26-8) to reach the Elite Eight for the fifth time in six years. They’ll play Sunday against No. 4 Syracuse, which stunned top-seeded South Carolina 80-72 in the first semifinal.

Russell and fellow post player Bashaara Graves combined to make their first 13 shots from the field before Russell missed a tough one in the middle of the third quarter. The two combined for 22 of the Lady Vols’ first 28 points as they got out to a 43-35 halftime lead.

Ameryst Alston led the Buckeyes with 21 points and Kelsey Mitchell had 20 while playing all 40 minutes.