Women's Basketball
Buckeyes Fall to Scarlet Knights in Sweet Sixteen
By John Porentas
Rutgers' defense made life difficult for Jessica Davenport, and virtually impossible for the rest of the Buckeyes, enabling the Scarlet Knights to grind out a 64-58 win in the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA tournament and end OSU's season.
Davenport got the attention of two, and sometimes three defenders every time she touched the ball, and though she scored a team-high 22 points, it wasn't nearly enough. That's because the rest of the OSU lineup just couldn't provide enough additional offense for the Buckeyes to overcome a strong offensive performance by Rutgers All-American guard Cappie Pondexter who scored a game-high 25 points and got significant offensive help from her teammates.
The Buckeyes were in charge early at the beginning of the game, leading 18-10 in the early going, but Rutgers closed the first half with a 17-4 run to take a 27-22 lead at the half. The Buckeyes scored just one field goal and two free throws during the last 9:50 of the half that encompassed the big run.
Ohio State was never able to regain the lead, largely due to a tenacious Scarlet Knight defense that forced 15 OSU turnovers that the Scarlet Knights converted into 22 points. The Buckeyes had committed just 18 turnovers in their two previous tournament games. The closest OSU could come was within two with just over six minutes remaining in the game, but never could regain the lead as the Scarlet Knights answered the OSU charge with a run of their own to re-extend the lead to as-many-as nine points.
When the Buckeyes weren't turning the ball over, they weren't having much luck putting the ball in the hoop against the Scarlet Knights. The Buckeyes shot just 39% from the field after shooting over 50% in their first two tournament games. OSU was simply terrible from three point range. The Buckeyes were just two-of-15 until they connected on two three pointers late in the game to finish four-of-17. In the earlier-season meeting with Rutgers, an OSU win, the Buckeyes shot 75% from the field in the second half, but could not find their shooting touch this time around.
Brandie Hoskins was the only other Buckeye beside Davenport to reach double figures with 12 points.
The Scarlet Knights will play Tennessee in the regional final. Rutgers defeated the Vols earlier this season by a score of 65-51in a game played at Rutgers on December 29.
The Buckeyes finished the year with an overall record of 30-5. Rutgers now stands at 28-5 on the season.
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