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• Feb 20, 2012

  Penn State crushes Buckeyes

  The Ohio State women's basketball team took its first real beating of the season tonight at Penn State.

  The Buckeyes, ranked eighth in the latest Associated Press poll, won't be in the top ten when the coaches' poll comes out Tuesday afternoon following their 84-68 loss in the Bryce Jordan Center.

  Penn State crushed them on the boards. The 60-32 overall edge included a 29-8 advantage on the offensive glass and an ugly 29-0 shutout in second-chance points.

  With the win, Penn State clinched at least a tie for the Big Ten regular-season championship. The Lions (22-5, 12-3) play Minnesota on Sunday. If they look anything like they did against the Buckeyes (23-4, 10-4), the Gophers won't have a chance.

  PSU center Nikki Greene scored a career-high 25 points and added 15 rebounds. Mia Nickson had 18 points and 15 rebounds. Guard Maggie Lucas even had a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds.

  Greene's game included 14 trips to the free throw line as she dominated the OSU inside players.

  "She competed," Ohio State coach Jim Foster said. "When you let a player duck in, when you let a player do what she wants, it's pretty easy. We let her do what she wanted. We didn't step up and compete with her. This was an interesting day in education and we'll see what happens."

  The Buckeyes did limit Lucas, Penn State's leading scorer, to seven fewer points than she normally scores. She was 2 for 15 from the field.

  "She could have been throwing the ball in the ocean today, but it wouldn't have mattered because they were going to get the (rebound) and put it back in," Foster said. "A lot of those shots ended up being assists. This was probably the worst rebounding in my life, certainly the least competitive."

  The Lions dominated the paint from the opening tip and steadily built a 45-30 lead over the Buckeyes in the first half.

  When Greene and Nickson weren't overpowering Ohio State on the block, the two were grabbing offensive rebounds for putbacks. Greene set the tone by scoring over Ashley Adams on the first two Penn State possessions.

  Green entered the game averaging 9.3 points for the season. She scored 16 in the first 20 minutes and also had 10 rebounds. Nickson added 9 points and 9 rebounds.

  The Buckeyes offense couldn't get inside and the Lions covered the perimeter like a blanket. After Tayler Hill hit a three-pointer for OSU to cut the deficit to 28-24 with 6:50 left in the half, Penn State coach Coquese Washington called timeout.

  She made her point and the Lions held Ohio State to six points over the final six minutes. Lucas started the run to the 15-point  lead at the break with a three-pointer, her first field goal of the game.

  The Buckeyes also were in foul trouble for most of the first half. Amber Stokes picked up two fouls and hit the bench with 16 minutes remaining. Kalpana Beach and Samantha Prahalis also has two fouls. Penn State took advantage by hitting 12 of 16 free throws in the first half and 24 of 35 for the game.

  Samantha Prahalis and Hill each scored 16 points for the Buckeyes. Beach had 12 points, but played only 17 minutes because of foul trouble. Darryce Moore picked up five fouls in 12 minutes.

  Posted by Jim Massie on Feb 20, 2012 | 1 Comments

• Feb 19, 2012

  Prahalis will start Monday against Penn State

  The illness that kept Samantha Prahalis out of the Ohio State game against Indiana on Thursday didn't keep her from practicing today in Value City Arena.

  Afterward, the senior point guard pronounced herself good to go for the huge Big Ten game against Penn State at 7 p.m. Monday in the Bryce Jordan Center.

  "I'm fine," Prahalis said. "I'm just working on getting my strength  back."

  The Buckeyes were off Friday and Prahalis also didn't practice on Saturday. She was cleared to do everything today, OSU coach Jim Foster said.

  First place in the conference is on the line in the game at Penn State. The Lions (21-5, 11-3) currently have a half game lead over the Buckeyes (23-3, 10-3). Ohio State has three games left in the regular season. Two are on the road. Penn State has two games remaining, both at home. 

  Prahalis missed her fourth game in four seasons on Thursday. The 9th-ranked Buckeyes didn't need her to put away the Hoosiers 76-54. They will against the No. 12 Lions, who can cilnch a tie for their first conference title since 2004 with a win.

  Tayler Hill leads the Big Ten in scoring at 21.3 points per game. Prahalis is a close second at 19.8. She leads the conference in assists with 167. She is 18 away from tying Northwestern's Nancy Kennelly for the Big Ten career assist mark of 892. She also is nine points from 1,900 for her career.

  Hill and Prahalis have accounted for 52.2 percent of Ohio State's 2.002 points this season.

   

   

  Posted by Jim Massie on Feb 19, 2012 | 0 Comments

• Feb 18, 2012

  Prahalis among eight finalists for the Nancy Lieberman Award

  Another postseason award possibility bounced in the direction of Ohio State senior Samantha Prahalis today when she was named one of eight  finalists for the Nancy Lieberman Award.

  This is the fourth time in four seasons that Prahalis has drawn a nomination for the award, which honors the top Division I point guard. She currently leads the Big Ten with 6.7 assists per game and needs 19 more to more to break the conference career mark of 892 held by Northwestern's Nancy Kennelly.

  Prahalis is joined on the finalist list by Skyler Diggins (Notre Dame), Angel Goodrich (Kansas), Chelsea Gray (Duke), Bria Hartley (Connecticut), Lindsey Moore (Nebraska), Odyssey Sims (Baylor) and Haley Steed (Brigham Young).

  The list will be cut to three finalists later this season with the winner being announced during the Final Four weekend (April 1-3).

  Prahalis also is a candidate for the Wooden Award, State Farm/Wade Trophy and the United Stetes Basketball Writers player of the year award.

  Teammate Tayler Hill is on the Wade and USBWA lists.

  Posted by Jim Massie on Feb 18, 2012 | 0 Comments

• Feb 16, 2012

  Buckeyes qub without Prahalis

  Sammy Prahalis did not start tonight's game for the Buckeyes against Indiana in Value City Arena because of an illness.

  Ohio State is up anyway 10-4 at the 15:21 timeout. Tayler Hill is running the point and has hit two three-pointers. The Buckeyes dis commit four turnovers ahead of the timeout and Kalpana Beach picked up two quick fouls.

  But the Buckeyes are surging. They lead 16-4 and forced Indiana to call a timeout with 13:59 left in the half.

  The assault continued to the 11:25 timeout.  Ohio State leads 20-6. The Buckeyes are 9 for 13 from the field and have an 11-1 rebounding edge.  The now six turnovers are the only negative.

  Ohio State remains in control through the 7:10 timeout with a 28-14 lead. Hill has 13 points and Amber Stokes has 6. The rebounding edge is 15-3. Aulani SInclair has given the Hoosiers a lift with 8 points off the bench.

  The Buckeyes lead 30-19 at the 3:11 timeout. The now 12 OSU turnovers have helped the Hoosiers stay in contact. Sinclair hit another three-pointer ahead of the timeout and has 11 points.

  The turnovers allowed Indiana to get back into the game at the half. The Hoosiers trail 34-27 but go into the locker room breathing a sigh relief.  The Buckeyes led 20-6 with 12:08 left in the half. But 14 turnovers committed by the Buckeyes were a godsend.

  Sinclair scored 11 of Indiana's 13 bench points. The Hoosiers also were 7 for 7 from the free throw line. The Buckeyes got 5 points from their bench on 2-for-9 shooting. H ill ended the half with 13 points and Stokes had 10.

  The second half has started and Beach is sizzling. She watched 17 minutes of the first half after picking up two fouls. She has 6 points to start the second half and OSU leads 43-31. The Hoosiers called timeout.

  TV timeout hit at 15;45. OSU leads 43-32. Indiana has missed 9 of 11 shots to start the second half.

  Ohio State is up 51-36 at the 11:53 timeout. They have committed two turnovers on the last two possessions and have 19 for the game. Beach has 8 points this half and the Buckeyes are 8 for 11 from the field in this half so far.

  The Buckeyes are in control with a 62-38 lead at the 7:49 timeout. The Hoosiers are 3 for 21 for this half. Hill has 21 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals. Stokes has 14 points and 5 assists.

  Hill hit back-to-back three-pointers and is leaving the game after the 2:51 timeout. She has 27 points on 9 for 11 shooting from the field. That includes a 7-for-8 line from behind the three-point arc. She also has 7 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals.. OSU leads 73-47. Stokes is 7 for 11 from the field with 7 assists. Beach was 6 for 7 from the field for 13 points and added 8 rebounds.

  Game over. OSU wins 75-54.

  Posted by Jim Massie on Feb 16, 2012 | 0 Comments

• Feb 16, 2012

  Prahalis is out of starting lineup tonight

  Ohio State senior point guard Samantha Prahalis looked a ilttle rough in the warmups for tonight's game against Indiana in Value City Arena.

  She didn't lead the team out of the tunnel. She actually brought up the rear and appeared sluggish. When the starting lineups came up, Raven Ferguson is in her place. Prahalis has started 126 of 127 games in her career.

  The official word is that she is under the weather. She did participate in warmups and could play.

  Posted by Jim Massie on Feb 16, 2012 | 0 Comments

• Feb 12, 2012

  Buckeyes protect home court with win over Purdue

  The Ohio State women's basketball team pulled away from Purdue in the final minute tonight to defeat the Boilermakers 80-71 in Value City Arena.

  The victory kept the 10th-ranked Buckeyes unbeaten this season at home and in the thick of the Big Ten championship with four games remaining in the regular season.

  Samantha Prahalis scored 21 of her game-high 26 points in the second half, including a three-pointer with 41 seconds remaining that turned a two-point game into a five-point chasm. Tayler Hill and Prahalis each added two free throws down the stretch to put away the Boilermakers (19-6, 9-3).

  Purdue entered the game percentage points ahead of Penn State at the top of the Big Ten standings. The Buckeyes (22-3, 9-3) now are tied with the Boilermakers in second place, a half game behind the Lions (20-5, 10-3). Purdue hosts Penn State on Thursday night in Mackey Arena.

  The Buckeyes travel to Penn State for a 7 p.m. game next Monday. Add fourth-place Nebraska (19-4, 8-3) to the grouping and a wild finish is predictable heading into the conference tournament in Indianapolis.

  OSU coach Jim Foster insisted that his players are not thinking about the conference standings, but did admit the win was big

  "I think every game we play for the rest of the season is a must-win for what we want to do," he said. "We without somebody else helping us. We have to take responsibility for us and not worry about who is playing who tonight or who is playing where tonight.. We take care of our business, we win."

  Purdue did its best to take Hill, the leading scorer in the conference, out of the game. She scored 12 points, 9 below her season's average. But other players filled her scoring role. Amber Stokes had 14 points, 4 re"bounds and two assists. She also helped pressure the Boilermakers into 18 turnovers.

  Ashley Adams also contributed in multiple categories. Besides scoring 13 points, Adams pulled down 7 rebounds, blocked 5 shots and dealt out 4 assists. Prahalis hit her three-pointer on an assist from Adams.

  "At some point in time, people are going to stop being surprised by Ashley," Foster said. "This is the fifth straight game where she has had five-plus blocks. She's been putting up impressive numbers. I think people look and because your vertical jump isn't 30 inches ... she's a terrific athlete. And she's got great hand-eye coordination and she is as good a passing center as I've seen in my 34 years."

  Prahalis did have 5 assists to move to 874 for her career, which is 18 behind Big Ten career leader Nancy Kennelly of Northwestern. She was pleased by the crowd of 8,422, the largest of the season at home. The game also was a breast center awareness event in honor of Kay Yow, the late North Carolina State coach.

  "It was great," Prahalis said. "I'm so happy everyone came out and wore pink and came out to support us. We really appreciate it. It was a great atmosphere."

  The Buckeyes trailed 37-31 at the half.

  "Coach told us what we had to do," Prahalis said. "We knew what we had to do. We were down six. We had to concentrate on what he was saying and execute. We went out, played as a team and we won."

  The Buckeyes host Indiana on Thursday night.

   

  Posted by Jim Massie on Feb 12, 2012 | 0 Comments

• Feb 12, 2012

  Ohio State vs. Purdue

  The 10th-ranked Buckeyes host No. 16 Purdue at 5 o'clock today in Value City Arena. As large games go, this one has Empire State Building look for both teams.

  The Boilermakers (19-5, 9-2) entered the day with a half game lead over Penn State in the Big Ten standings. The Lions 20-5, 10-3) defeated Northwestern earlier today and are only percentage points behind at the moment. Purdue can maintain its hold on first place with a win.

  Ohio State (21-3, 8-3), meanwhile, needs to win to stay in contention for a Big Ten title with only four games left in the regular season. Two of those games are on the road at Penn State and at Nebraska (19-4, 8-3). OSU has lost all three of its games this season within the conference and away from Value City Arena. The last two losses, at Minnesota and at Illinois, were major upsets.

  Purdue also has lost two of its past three games, but is 5-1 on the road in the Big Ten. The game is being televised on ESPN2.

  This is the first and only meeting of the regular season for the perennial powers. Ohio State won both games last season, a blowout win in Nationwide Arena and a last-second victory on a three-pointer by Brittany Johnson. The Boilermakers have not won in Columbus since 2004.

  The arena doors are open. Fans are trickling in. This is a pink game for breast cancer awareness. Both teams will have pink in their uniforms to honor late North Carolina State coach Kay Yow. The OSU jerseys, I'm told, will be auctioned off later for charity.

  Lower bowl of the arena is fililng up. This looks like the biggest crowd of the season.

  The starting lineups are posted:

  Purdue - Brittany Rayburn, 6-0, G; Courtney Moses, 5-6, G; KK Houser, 5-7, G; Sam Ostarello, 6-2, F; Chelsea Jones, 6-4, C.

  Ohio State - Kalpana Beach, 6-1, F; Amber Stokes, 5-10, G; Tayler Hill, 5-10, G; Ashley Adams, 6-5, C; Sammy Prahalis, 5-7, G

  Purdue is pushing the ball with good results in the early going. The Boilermakers lead 12-11 at the 15:43 timeout. They are 6 for 10 from the field. On a down note, point guard Courtneh Moses picked up two quick fouls and is on the bench.

  The Buckeyes are 4 for 8. Ambers Stokes has four points. OSU needs to shore up the defense. All 12 Purdue points are in the paint.

  Ohio State came out of the timeout looking sharper. The Buckeyes led 17-14 after an Ashley Adams basket. But turnovers and offensive rebounds are hurting. Alex Guyton hit two jumpers for Purdue and Antoinette Howard scored after grabbing the second offensive board of a possession. Purdue leads 20-19 at the 11:50 timeout and has the ball after an OSU turnover.

  Turnovers and offensive rebounds continue to plague OSU at the 7:52 timeout. Purdue leads 26-22 and has eight offensive boards and has scored eight points off turnovers. The Boilermakers have a 14-6 advantage on the boards overall. Prahalis has five of seven OSU turnovers.

  Purdue leads 33-28 at the 3:37 timeout.  Stokes made a layup and was fouled. She missed the free throw. She also missed the front end of a one-and-one. Hill has been limited to three shots by the Purdue defense.  

  Purdue takes a 37-31 lead into the half. The Boilermakers have outplayed the Buckeyes. They are controlling Hill and Prahalis and dominating the boards. The edge is 23-11 on the glass. They also continued to control the game with starting guards Courtney Moses, KK Houser and Brittany Rayburn all on the bench with two fouls over the final 4:48.

  Hill has 3 points on five shots. Prahalis has 5 points on seven shots. Stokes has 8 points but is 0 for 3 from the free-throw line.

  Rayburn has 11 points for Purdue and is 5 for 5 from the field. Ostarello is 4 for 5 with 8 points. Overall, Purdue is 17 for 33 from the field. Ohio State is 13 for 27. The Buckeyes are 3 for 7 from the free-throw line. That's a killer number in a game like this.

  The second half is underway. Purdue remains hot and leads 47-42 at the 15;53 timeout. Ohio State is 4 for 6 from the field with Prahalis and Hill coming to life - at least a little. Stokes also has scored and has 10 points. Purdue turned it over on pressure by Stokes ahead of the timeout.  The Buckeyes need to start converting these opportunities.

  The Buckeyes scored on the next possession with Hill assisting Darryce Moore. KK Houser nailed a three-pointer after that to put Purdue on top 50-44. But Prahalis and Hill scored inside to cut it to 50-48. Prahalis was fouled on a jumper and will have two free throws at the 14:15 mark. Purdue called this timeout.

  Prahalis made 2 of 3 free throws after the timeout to tie the score at 50-50. Both team went into a deep freeze heading into the 11:51 timeout. Prahalis did split two free throws and Ohio State leads 51-50. The Buckeyes now have missed six free throws in 15 attempts. Both teams have four fouls this half.

  Purdue has regained control after a Stokes three-pointer tied the game at 56-56 with 9:22 to play. KK Houser made two free throws and Rayburn knocked down a three-pointer. She leads all scorers with 18 as the Boilers have a 61-56 lead at the 7:51 timeout.

  Prahalis drew a foul on a three-point attempt before the break. She will have three free throws when play resumes.

  She hit all three and the game is on again. The Buckeyes lead 67-65 at the 3:50 timeout. Stokes drew a foul ahead of the timeout and Houser will have a one-and-one. The Boilermakers are 5 for 6 from the line. Houser is 2 for 2.

  Coming down to the wire. Ohio State leads 73-71 qith 43 seconds to play. Ohio State has the ball and a timeout with 15 seconds left on the shot clock.

  Prahalis nailed a three-pointer coming out of the timeout on an Adams assist with 40 seconds left. Hill stole the ball and was fouled with 24.8 seconds remaining. She has two free throws when play resumes and OSU leads 76-71.

  Hill made both free throws. Prahalis just made two more. Ohio State wins 80-71. Prahalis finished with 26 points, 5 assists and 3 steals. Stokes had 14 points and 4 assists. Adams got 13 points, 7 rebounds and 5 blocks. Hill was held to 12 points, but scored 9 after the break. Rayburn led Purdue with 22 points.

  Posted by Jim Massie on Feb 12, 2012 | 0 Comments

• Feb 9, 2012

  Ohio State at Illinois

  The Buckeyes are 5 for 6 from the field at the 15:50 timeout and lead the Illini 10-6.

  OSU is looking inside to 6-5 Ashley Adams. She has four field goals and eight points. Tayler Hill broke her run with a layup off a turnover. Samantha Prahalis has three assists.

  Karisma Penn opened with two baskets for Illinois. The Illini are 3 for 5 in the early going.

  Ohio State went cold after the first timeout, missing five straight shots. Illinois got hot, making 5 of 7. Amber Moore knocked down a pair of three-pointers and Illinois leads 18-12 at the 11:29 timeout. Adams just scored and has 10 points.

  The Buckeyes are playing sloppy basketball. They trail 25-18 at the 7:56 timeout and have committed turnovers in four straight possessions. Alexis Burke has a free-throw for Illinois when play resumes.

  Ohio State closed to within 26-24, but missed two shots at tying. the game. Illinois made two of three to push its lead back to 30-24 at the 3:22 timeout. Prahalis and Hill have combined for only six points so far.  Amber Stokes is scoreless. Illinois' defensive quickness is bothering OSU greatly. Shot clock violation by OSU followed the timeout.

  Hill came to life with a three-pointer and driving layup, but the offense remains in the deep freeze.

  Illinois takes a 34-29 lead into the half. Kalpana Beach did make a bank shot at the buzzer, but the refs said the shot was too late. They checked the replay and said the basket was no good.

  The second half has started and OSU has committed three more turnovers. Illinois leads 38-35 at the 15:59 timeout. Hill has found Adams inside for two more scores. Otherwise the offense still isn't clicking.

  Prahalis and Hill hit back-to-back three-pointers and OSU leads 44-42. Illinois called a timeout after Hill connected with 13:24 left in the game.

  Hill hit two more three-pointers. Illinois called another timeout at 12:00 trailing 50-44.

  Play resumed and the two teams traded two turnovers apiece. Timeout called after the last one with 11:19 to play. Illinois has the ball when play resumes.

  The Buckeyes were up 56-44 after a Prahalis jumper at 8:50. Play got sloppy again. OSU leads 56-46 at the 7:46 timeout.

  Illinois is on an 8-0 run and trails 56-52 with 5:29 left. Buckeyes can't find a basket again.

  Illinois tied the game at 56-56 with 4:46 to play and again at 58-58 with 4:03 left. Prahalis nailed a three-pointer with 3:39 left to give OSU a 61-58 lead. Illinois turned it over ahead of the 3:23 timeout.

  Ohio State is up 63-62 with 58 seconds left and has the ball. Illinois has scored the last four points.

  Make it the last six points. Lydia McCully made both ends of a one-and-one to give Illinois a 64-63 lead with 33.7 seconds left.

  Hill went inside to score for the Buckeyes, who lead 65-64 with 16.8 left. Illinois has the ball. Alexis Burke scored with 3.2 seconds left to give Illinois the 66-65 win. Prahalis missed a halfcourt prayer at the end.

  Posted by Jim Massie on Feb 9, 2012 | 0 Comments

• Feb 7, 2012

  Prahalis earns third Big Ten player of week honor of season

  A career-high scoring night earned Ohio State senior guard Samantha Prahalis her third Big Ten player of the week award of the season today.

  Prahalis poured in 34 points last night in a 72-58 win over Wisconsin in Value City Arena. She was 12 for 18 from the field, 4 for 5 from three-point distance and 6 for 6 from the free throw line. She also had five assists, four steals and two rebounds for the 10th-ranked Buckeyes (21-2, 8-2).

  The award was the second in three weeks for Prahalis and the seventh of her career. She hit a three-pointer with 2:04 to play to move past her former career high of 32 set during her sophomore season at Michigan State. Prahalis and teammate Tayler Hill currently are tied for the lead in scoring in conference games at 21.8 points.

  Northwestern's Morgan Jones was named freshman of the week.

   

  Posted by Jim Massie on Feb 7, 2012 | 0 Comments

• Feb 6, 2012

  Prahalis leads Buckeyes past Badgers

  Samantha Prahalis scored a career-high 34 points to lead Ohio State to a 72-58 Big Ten win over Wisconsin tonight in Value City Arena.

  The 10th-ranked Buckeyes (21-2, 8-2) had to withstand a three-point barrage from the Badgers (8-15, 4-7) to secure the victory. Wisconsin hit 12 of 24 three-point attempts in the game, including its first four attempts in the second half.

  Prahalis scored 18 points in the first half on 7-for-9 shooting and helped Ohio State to a 35-25 lead at the break. She hit a floater with 13:52 left in the game to give OSU a 49-39 lead when the Badgers made their last-ditch run.

  Morgan Paige hit a three and Ashley Thomas scored twice inside to cut the deficit to 49-46 with 11:58 to play. After an OSU timeout, Darryce Moore and Tayler Hill connected on field goals for the Buckeyes to stretch the lead back to seven.

  Wisconsin responded with a three-pointer from Jacki Gulczynski to get withint 53-49 with 9:05 to play. Raven Ferguson answered that strike with a reverse layup and Hill followed with a three-pointer. Prahalis then went the length of the court for a layup after a turnover and scored to put the Buckeyes on top 60-49.

  They held on from there. Hill finished with 18 points for OSU. Ashley Adams had five of the team's 12 blocks. Taylor Wurtz led Wisconsin with 20 points.

  Posted by Jim Massie on Feb 6, 2012 | 1 Comments

• Feb 6, 2012

  Badgers vs. Buckeyes; Covington out

  The Buckeyes will play their first game in eight days at 7:30 tonight in Value City Arena against Wisconsin.

  Despite not playing last week, Ohio State moved up to No. 10 in the Associated Press top 25 today. When last they did play, the Buckeyes lost 76-65 at Minnesota. The Badgers also lost their last game, an 85-79 overtime defeat at Iowa on Thursday.

  Wisconsin did not have senior post Anya Covington in that game. She also is out tonight with an undisclosed illness. OSU coach Jim Foster said on Friday that Covington "might be the most improved player in the league." She hadn't missed any of the previous 105 games in her career. The posted lineup has freshman Jacki Gulczynski starting for her tonight.

  Three Badgers hit double figures in that game - Jade Davis (16), Taylor Wurtz (27) and Morgan Paige (17). Foster said that Wisconsin has improved because the team has found a consistent third scoing threat since the Buckeyes won 76-61 in Madison on Nov. 30.

  Ohio State had only two players reach double figures in the loss at Minnesota. Tayler Hill scored 26 and Sammy Prahalis had 25.

  Of note, redshirt freshman guard Amy Scullion is off crutches and in uniform tonight. She has been sidelined with a stress fracture in her right foot for a month. She is not cleared to play, of course. She hasn't practiced since late December.

  Prahalis scored the first six points of the game and Ohio State leads 8-2 at teh 15:34 timeout. Taylor Wurtz got Wisconsin on the board with a basket at the 15:47 mark. Ashley Adams has two blocks for the Buckeyes.

  Energy isn't an early problem for Ohio State. The Buckeyes reached the 11:32 timeout with Prahalis diving for a loose ball. Ohio State leads 18-11. Wisconsin has six turnovers, but is 3 for 5 from beyond the three-point arc. Jade Davis is 2 for 2. Prahalis already has 11 points and 2 assists.

  Wisconsin called timeout after a Prahalis three. OSU leads 25-13 with 7:37 to play.

  TV timeout followed at 6:35 with Ohio State ahead 27-13. Prahalis has 16 points and 3 assists. Adams has 4 blocks and 4 rebounds. Wisconsin has committed eight turnovers and OSU has 13 points off the miscues.

  The Buckeyes went cold - except for Prahalis - over the next three minutes. Wisconsin got three-pointers from Morgan Paige and Wurtz. The Badgers now are within 29-23 at the 3:34 timeout. They now have scored 13 points off OSU turnovers.

  Halftime: Ohio State leads 35-25. Prahalis hit the locker room with 18 points on 7 for 9 shooting. Hill has 6 and Stokes 5. Paige leads Wisconsin with 7.

  The Badgers were 10 for 29 from the field, but 5 for 9 from three-point land. The Buckeyes were 14 for 30 from the field and 2 for 6 from three. OSU has 15-13 edge on points off turnovers.

  Wisconsin is bombing away from three-point land in the second half. The Badgers have hit 4 of 5 and trail 47-37 at the 15:21 timeout. Ohio State is playing well but can't get any separation. Prahalis and Hill each have a three-pointer for OSU. Wurtz has three threes in the half and 16 points overall.

  Ohio State called timeout with 11:58 to play to stop the bleeding. Wisconsin got another three from Paige and two inside scores from Ashley Thomas to cut the deficit to 49-46. Prahalis has 27 points, but everyone else is struggling.

  TV timeout hits at 10:38. Wisconsin missed three shots. Darryce Moore scored inside for Ohio State and Prahalis fed Hill on a fast break layup. The Buckeyes lead 53-46 and will have the ball when play resumes. The Badgers have 10 three-pointers and are 5 for 9 in this half to match their first half numbers.

  Prahalis steals and scores a layup after Hill hits a three-pointer. OSU leads 60-49. TV timeout hits with the same score at 7:04. Davis was called for an offensive foul for pushing off Stokes.

  Two free throws by Prahalis gave OSU a 65-49 lead with 4:42 left. Paige answered wwith another three-pointer for the Badgers. Wisconsin has the ball when play resumes after the 3:59 timeout.

  Posted by Jim Massie on Feb 6, 2012 | 0 Comments

• Feb 3, 2012

  Iowa loses Printy

  The Iowa Hawkeyes lost junior all-Big Ten guard Jaime Printy to an ACL injury in last night's 85-79 overtime win at Wisconsin.

  Printy suffered the knee ligament tear in the final 30 seconds of the overtime while she was going after a rebound. She leads the Hawkeyes in scoring at 16.9 points per game, which is fifth in the conference.

  Posted by Jim Massie on Feb 3, 2012 | 0 Comments