CPD
Buckeyes women stop Minnesota, remain in first
by Dave Campbell / Associated Press Friday February 20, 2009, 2:34 AM
Marlin Levinson / Minneapolis Star Tribune via APOhio State's Alison Jackson, right, fights for a rebound with Minnesota's Ashley Ellis-Mann in the second half Thursday in Minneapolis.
MINNEAPOLIS -- This time, Jantel Lavender and the Ohio State Buckeyes didn't budge.
Having Shavelle Little to bother the Gophers sure was a big help, too.
Samantha Prahalis scored 17 points to pace 20th-ranked Ohio State in a 73-62 victory at Minnesota on Thursday night, keeping the Buckeyes in first place in the Big Ten race and avenging an earlier loss to the Gophers.
"The loss at home really opened our eyes," said Lavender, a Cleveland Central Catholic graduate who called this a "ferocious" performance. "When we come out like that and play hard defense and we're just cohesive on offense, we're a good team."
Prahalis snapped a shooting slump with a season-high 18 points against Northwestern last Sunday. Lavender and Star Allen had 14 points apiece for the Buckeyes (21-5, 12-3), who remained tied with Michigan State atop the conference. Brittany Johnson added 12 points off the bench, all on 3-pointers.
Little, their starting point guard who missed the previous meeting with Minnesota because of an injured left knee, had eight points, six rebounds and five steals.
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