Ohio State guard Kennedy Cambridge missed out on the 2026 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year award, as UCLA center Lauren Betts was given the honor by both the coaches and media.
Cambridge, named to the coaches and media All-Big Ten defensive teams, led the conference with four steals per game. The redshirt junior ranks fourth overall in steals nationally.
On March 1, Cambridge broke Ohio State’s program record for steals in a single season, finishing the regular season with 120. The previous record of 115 was set by Yevette Angel in the 1984-85 season.
Betts averaged two blocks and five defensive rebounds, in addition to 16.3 points. The senior was also named the Big Ten Player of the Year, becoming the first Big Ten player to earn both awards in the same season.
Alongside Cambridge, Ohio State center Elsa Lemmila was voted to the All-Big Ten defensive team by the media. Lemmila slightly edged out Betts and USC guard Jazzy Davidson to lead the Big Ten in blocks with 2.2 per game, while notching 4.9 defensive rebounds per game.
Jaloni Cambridge earns unanimous All-Big Ten first team honors
Ohio State point guard Jaloni Cambridge was unanimously voted to the All-Big Ten first team by both the coaches and media, marking the second time she’s earned first-team honors.
Averaging 23.4 points per game, Cambridge was the Big Ten’s top scorer and also ranked top-10 in the conference in assists (4.5).
Cambridge put together six 30-plus point performances and became the first player since Kelsey Mitchell in 2016 to score over 40 points, notching 41 against Illinois on Jan. 7.
Senior guard Chance Gray was voted an All-Big Ten honorable mention, in addition to being a Big Ten sportsmanship honoree.
Kylee Kitts earns All-Big Ten freshman honors
Despite being sidelined five games with a right shoulder injury, Ohio State redshirt freshman Kylee Kitts got a spot on the media’s All-Big Ten freshman team.
Kitts was in the Buckeyes’ starting lineup, averaging 9.3 points and 7.1 rebounds per game, before getting injured against TCU on Jan. 19.
Slowly, Kitts has found her way back in the lineup after returning on Feb. 8 against Oregon, and closed the season with an overall average of 7.8 points and 5.9 rebounds.
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio State women’s basketball players earn Big Ten honors for standout seasons
Reporting by Brianna Mac Kay, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
