COLUMBUS, Ohio (Interstat) — A surging Ohio State team will look to extend its dominance in Big Ten play when it hosts struggling Penn State in a women’s basketball matchup Wednesday night at Value City Arena.

The Buckeyes (15-2, 3-0 Big Ten) have won five straight games, including an 89-76 road victory over Maryland on Sunday. They are powered by star guard Jaloni Cambridge, who is coming off a near triple-double with 28 points, nine rebounds and eight assists against the Terrapins. Over her last three games, the dynamic sophomore has averaged 29 points, 6.7 assists and 5.3 rebounds, establishing herself as one of the nation’s premier backcourt talents.

Penn State (7-10, 0-3) arrives in Columbus mired in a six-game losing streak, most recently a 92-76 home loss to Illinois. The Lady Lions’ challenges are compounded by a defense allowing 88.3 points per game during the skid. Their primary bright spot has been the consistent production of center Gracie Merkle. The junior has scored in double figures in seven consecutive games, averaging 17.1 points and 6.9 rebounds over that stretch. She poured in 24 points on 11-of-14 shooting against Illinois.

Ohio State’s high-pressure defense, which forces over 20 turnovers per game, will pose a significant threat to a Penn State team that has committed 15 or more turnovers in four of its last five contests. The Buckeyes have won the last eight meetings in the series, with Penn State’s last victory coming in 2019.

For the Lady Lions, containing Cambridge and managing Ohio State’s full-court tempo will be paramount to ending their slide. For the Buckeyes, the game represents an opportunity to solidify their conference standing before a pivotal stretch that includes a Jan. 25 trip to Iowa.

Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. EST.