In a year defined by the emergence of freshman point guard Jaloni Cambridge, another one of Ohio State’s freshmen, Ava Watson was recognized by the Big Ten on Monday.
Watson was named the Big Ten’s Freshman of the Week, after propelling the team to a 87-84 overtime victory over Minnesota on Feb. 13.
Watson scored 16 points in the game while shooting 5-of-6 from the field, and 4-of-4 from 3-point range.
The 16 points scored by Watson was her second-highest total of the season. The Buford, Ga. native, who also grabbed two steals in the win, drew plenty of praise from head coach Kevin McGuff after the game.
“She made shots and she gave us a huge boost in the first quarter,” McGuff said. “She really gave us some great minutes and points.”
Although Watson’s Freshman of the Week honor was her first of the season, her offensive production isn’t new to the Buckeyes. Watson has scored at least 15 points in four games this season and is averaging 5.6 points, .9 rebounds and .8 assists per game.
Watson didn’t get the chance to play in the entirety of Ohio State’s dramatic win over Minnesota after spraining her ankle – an injury that also kept her out of the Buckeyes’ next game, an 86-78 overtime win over Iowa on Monday – but McGuff doesn’t expect the injury to be long term.
“She’s rehabbing and it’s not like a long, long-term issue,” McGuff said of Watson’s injury after the Iowa game on Monday. “I do not know about (Ohio State’s game against Indiana on Thursday) yet, but hopefully we get her back sooner rather than later.”
