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Women's Basketball
Second Half Rally against Rough, Tough Gophers Brings OSU Outright Big Ten Title
By Tony GerdemanThe No. 7 Ohio State Buckeyes (25-3, 13-2 Big Ten) went to Minneapolis and outlasted the rough-and-tumble Golden Gophers (12-13, 5-9 Big Ten) 64-59, clinching yet another outright Big Ten Championship for Head Coach Jim Foster and his squad.
Minnesota came out of the gate very strong and played an aggressive defense that seemed to catch the Buckeyes off guard. Ohio State was pushed around for most of the first half and found themselves unable to do the things that allow them to excel. The Gophers controlled the tempo and dictated the pace of play for the first twenty minutes of the game.
Despite a physicality for which Ohio State appeared initially unprepared, the Buckeyes stayed strong and never let Minnesota build an insurmountable lead. Even though they outplayed Ohio State for most of the first half, the Gophers only held a 32-27 halftime advantage.
According to Jim Foster, however, after looking back on the first half of play, there was a concerted effort to get things turned around in the second half.
"It was a very physical game. At first we were not making shots and transitioning. In the second half we just made a decision to step it up. The game turned into something that complements our strengths."
In the second half, the Buckeyes outscored Minnesota by 37-27, but it was their own aggression on offense which allowed Ohio State to overcome the Gophers’ lead, and then build one of their own.
Despite shooting just 18-51 (35%) from the field, including just 9-25 (36%) in the second half, Ohio State was able to build a lead thanks to their abundant free throw attempts. The Buckeyes shot 22 free throws and made 18 of them in the second half and held Minnesota to just four free throw attempts of their own. Point guard Samantha Prahalis was only 3-16 from the field, but thanks to shooting 12-12 from the free throw line, she led the Buckeyes in scoring with 19 points.
Center Jantel Lavender added 14 points and eight rebounds. Freshman Tayler Hill--returning to her native Minnesota--scored 13 points, herself making 7-10 free throws on the afternoon.
Despite the shots from the field not falling, Ohio State still went about their business and found other ways to win. One of the keys was the insertion of two-time Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year Shavelle Little into the lineup in the second half. She harassed the Gophers worse than Carl Spackler, coming up with two steals and forcing several held-ball situations.
Minnesota Head Coach Pam Borton knew her team would not be able to endure any lulls if they were going to pull this win off.
"When you play a team that's in the top ten you have to bring your 'A' game, and we brought our 'A-' game. I thought we did a pretty decent job tonight, but you've got to put a forty-minute game together when you're playing a top-ten team."
Unfortunately for Borton and her team, the Gophers only put together about a 35-minute game, and the Buckeyes took advantage.
And with the outright conference championship sewn up for Ohio State, Jim Foster even allowed himself a rare moment to acknowledge it.
"It is obviously a significant accomplishment. When I took the job at Ohio State I learned quickly it was about winning Big Ten Championships and National Championships which is what we are hoping for. It is a significant accomplishment because no one else has done it. It is certainly special."
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