Ohio State women's basketball vs. Maine live score, updates, highlights from 2024 March Madness

The NCAA Tournament starts Friday afternoon for Ohio State women's basketball.

The No. 2 Buckeyes will host No. 15 Maine at Value City Arena in Columbus at noon Friday. The game will be broadcast on ESPN.

Follow for live scores, NCAA Tournament bracket updates from first round.

Who leads Ohio State in scoring?

Jacy Sheldon has been Ohio State’s main source of offense in 2023-24.

The first-team All-Big Ten guard is averaging 18 points per game and is shooting 50.9% from the field on an average of 13 shot attempts per game.

Cotie McMahon (14.1), Taylor Thierry (11.4) and Celeste Taylor (10.2) are the other Buckeyes that average more than 10 points per game.

Who leads Maine in scoring?

Redshirt senior guard Anne Simon, the 2024 AEC Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year, leads the Black Bears with 18.8 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2.5 steals per game while shooting 43.4% from the field on a career high 16.1 shots per game.

Junior forward Adrianna Smith has also played an instrumental role in Maine's offense, averaging 16.6 points and 10.9 rebounds per game along with 1.5 steals per contest.

Smith and Simon account for 54.1% of the team’s total points, 53.6% of its assists and 48.1% of its rebounds.

Ohio State NCAA Tournament history

Ohio State has made 28 editions of the NCAA Tournament. The Buckeyes have posted a 34-27 record in tournament games, but have only made one Final Four: 1993, when Ohio State lost to Texas Tech in the national championship game.

Maine NCAA Tournament history

Maine has appeared in 10 NCAA tournaments. The Black Bears' first appearance was in 1995 as a No. 16 seed. They lost 105-75 to No. 1 Connecticut.

Maine has one NCAA Tournament win, a 60-58 victory as a No. 10 seed against No. 7 Stanford. The Black Bears lost to No. 2 Old Dominion in the Round of 32, 72-62.

Here's a look at Maine's full NCAA Tournament history:

• 1995: No. 1 Connecticut 105, No. 16 Maine 75

• 1996: No. 6 George Washington 83, No. 11 Maine 67

• 1997: No. 4 LSU 88, No. 13 Maine 79

• 1998: No. 4 NC State 89, No. 13 Maine 64

• 1999: No. 10 Maine 60, No. 7 Stanford 58; No. 2 Old Dominion 72, No. 10 Maine 62

• 2000: No. 5 North Carolina 62, No. 12 Maine 57

• 2004: No. 4 Texas Tech 60, No. 13 Maine 50

• 2018: No. 2 Texas 83, No. 15 Maine 54

• 2019: No. 3 NC State 63, No. 14 Maine 51

When was Ohio State’s last NCAA Tournament game?

Ohio State ended the 2022-23 season in the Elite Eight. The Buckeyes lost its regional final meeting against Virginia Tech 84-74.

When was Maine’s last NCAA Tournament game?

Maine’s most recent NCAA Tournament game came against No. 3 NC State. The No. 14 Black Bears lost 63-51 in the first round.

Ohio State vs. Maine history

Ohio State has won each of its two meetings against Maine.

• Nov. 17, 1995: Ohio State 93, Maine 64

• Dec. 3, 2017: Ohio State 83, Maine 70

What channel is Ohio State vs. Maine on today? How to watch, stream live

TV channel: ESPN

Stream: YouTubeTV, Hulu Live, Fubo TV (free trial), ESPN app

Ohio State vs. Maine start time, TV info, location

• Start time: 12 p.m. ET

• TV info: ESPN

• Location: Value City Arena, Columbus, Ohio

Ohio State vs. Maine preview

Ohio State: After winning the regular-season Big Ten championship for the 17th time in program history, Ohio State faltered in the Big Ten women's basketball tournament quarterfinal against Maryland. Led by Big Ten Coach of the Year Kevin McGuff, the two-seeded Buckeyes will have two first-team All-Big Ten recipients — Jacy Sheldon and Cotie McMahon — along with Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year Celeste Taylor. Ohio State has made the regional round of the NCAA Tournament in each of the past two seasons.

Ohio State women vs Maine: Ohio State women vs Maine in March Madness: Prediction for 2024 NCAA Tournament opener

Maine: Maine will play in its first NCAA Tournament since 2019 after winning the Women's America East Conference regular-season title and conference tournament championship. Redshirt senior guard Anne Simon, a two-time AEC Player of the Year, leads the Black Bears with 18.8 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2.5 steals per game. Simon and junior forward Adrianna Smith combine on average for more than 20 of the Black Bears' 60 shot attempts per game.

Ohio State vs. Maine odds, betting line, spread

Odds according to BetMGM

• Spread: -26.5 Ohio State

• Over/under: 131.5 points

Ohio State vs. Maine prediction, game picks

Ohio State is in a prime position to relight the fire it had that made the team a two-seed in the NCAA Tournament. If the Buckeyes' half-court defense returns to the form it was at during January and February and the offense is able to score early, Ohio State should be able to easily take the first-round victory against Maine.

Ohio State vs. Maine injury updates

Ohio State:

• Kennedy Cambridge

• Karla Vres

Maine:

• None

Ohio State vs. Maine stats

Ohio State

• PPG: 79.8

• PPG allowed: 63.8

• FG%: 46.7%

• 3PT%: 35.2%

Maine

• PPG: 64.3

• PPG allowed: 56.3

• FG%: 40.2%

• 3PT%: 30.2%

Ohio State vs. Maine championship odds

Odds according to BetMGM

Ohio State: +2500

Maine: +50000

Ohio State basketball schedule 2023-24

The past five games of Ohio State's 2023-24 basketball season. For the full schedule, click here

Maine basketball schedule 2023-24

The past five games of Maine's 2023-24 basketball season. For the full schedule, click here.

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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio State vs. Maine live score, updates: 2024 NCAA Tournament