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Ohio State women's basketball's Cotie McMahon wins Big Ten Freshman of the Year

colin gay, the columbus dispatch
·2 min read

Cotie McMahon is finishing her first collegiate season with some hardware.

The Ohio State freshman forward was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year after averaging 14 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.6 steals in each of the Buckeyes' 29 games in 2022-23.

McMahon is the first Ohio State player to win Big Ten Freshman of the Year since guard Kelsey Mitchell in 2014-15. Ohio State senior guard Taylor Mikesell shared the award with Michigan's Naz Hillmon in 2018-19 when she was at Maryland.

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McMahon had 11 20-point games for the Buckeyes during her freshman season, including a career-high 30 against South Florida at the San Diego Invitational Dec. 20. She also recorded her first career double-double against Penn State Feb. 16 with 17 points and 11 rebounds.

Feb. 24, 2023; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes forward Cotie McMahon (32) puts up a shot during the second half of Thursday's basketball game against the Maryland Terrapins at Value City Arena. Maryland won the game 76-74.Mandatory Credit: Barbara J. Perenic/Columbus Dispatch
Feb. 24, 2023; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes forward Cotie McMahon (32) puts up a shot during the second half of Thursday's basketball game against the Maryland Terrapins at Value City Arena. Maryland won the game 76-74.Mandatory Credit: Barbara J. Perenic/Columbus Dispatch

Playing three-and-a-half seasons for Centerville High School in Centerville, Ohio, McMahon was the No. 23 player in the 2022 recruiting class, scoring 1,000 points by the end of her junior season.

Taylor Mikesell named first-team All-Big Ten by coaches and media

Feb. 24, 2023; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes guard Taylor Mikesell (24) is guarded by Maryland Terrapins guard Brinae Alexander (5) during the second half of Thursday's basketball game at Value City Arena. Maryland won the game 76-74.Mandatory Credit: Barbara J. Perenic/Columbus Dispatch
Feb. 24, 2023; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes guard Taylor Mikesell (24) is guarded by Maryland Terrapins guard Brinae Alexander (5) during the second half of Thursday's basketball game at Value City Arena. Maryland won the game 76-74.Mandatory Credit: Barbara J. Perenic/Columbus Dispatch

Leading the team in points with 17.3 per game, Mikesell was named first-team All-Big Ten for the 2022-23 season by both the coaches and media.

Mikesell is the only Ohio State representative on the first-team, and is one of eight team members selected by both the coaches and the media, along with Iowa guard and Big Ten Player of the Year Caitlin Clark and Indiana forward and Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year Mackenzie Holmes.

Mikesell averaged 17.3 points and 3.1 rebounds per game, shooting 42.7% from the field and 40.6% from 3-point range.

McMahon and sophomore guard/forward Taylor Thierry were each named second-team All-Big Ten by the coaches and media.

Thierry was also named to the Big Ten's All-Defensive team by the coaches after averaging 6.7 rebounds per game with 22 blocks and 58 steals.

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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio State basketball Cotie McMahon wins Big Ten Freshman of the Year