OSU women's basketball: Terrapins run with slow start
Buckeyes are outscored 46-16 in lane
Saturday, December 1, 2007 2:55 AM
By Jim Massie
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
Nick Wass Associated Press
Ohio State's Lesslee Mason-Cox contends for a rebound with Maryland's Crystal Langhorne.
COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- Three minutes into the game last night, the Ohio State women's basketball team already was seeing more stars than one of those poor souls who fought Mike Tyson in his early years.
Third-ranked Maryland played the part of Tyson with a dizzying offense that sent the 19th-ranked Buckeyes reeling to a 77-53 loss in the Big Ten/Atlantic Coast Conference Challenge.
Maryland (10-0) bobbed, weaved, jabbed and bombarded Ohio State behind the dazzling ball-handling of point guard Kristi Toliver and the inside power trio of Laura Harper, Marissa Coleman and Crystal Langhorne.
Continued.......
OSU women's basketball: Lavender makes fast impression on Foster
Saturday, December 15, 2007 3:08 AM
By Jim Massie
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
Neal c. lauron dispatch
Freshmen center Jantel Lavender has already earned two Big Ten player of the week honors for Ohio State.
On the way to practice this week, Jantel Lavender walked past Ohio State women's basketball coach Jim Foster and drew a nod and a smile.
"She's got a chance," Foster said.
The short sentence served as a rave review of the freshman center. Eight games into Lavender's college career, loftier compliments are coming from other directions.
After Lavender dropped a 24-point, 15-rebound performance in a 69-55 win over Mississippi, Rebels coach Renee Ladner offered a nod but not much of a smile.
"She's a force," Ladner said. "Everyone in the country would've liked to sign her."
The quick start is not a surprise. Lavender provided a snapshot of her ability last summer as a member of the gold-medal winning U.S. team in the FIBA Under-19 world championships in Slovakia.
DePaul's Doug Bruno coached the team, which also included Connecticut freshman Maya Moore, Tennessee freshman Angie Bjorklund and Michigan State sophomore Allyssa DeHaan.
Continued......
Game preview: OSU at Washington
Sunday, December 16, 2007 3:31 AM
7 TONIGHT
? Where: Bank of America Arena, Seattle
? Records: Ohio State 6-2; Washington 4-6
? TV: Fox Sports Net
? Radio: WOSU-AM (820)
? Key matchup: The Buckeyes spent much of the past two weeks of practice polishing their guard play on offense and defense. The point-guard combo of Maria Moeller and Shavelle Little finally has the chance to apply practice to the game against the Huskies, who have a solid veteran running the team in senior Emily Florence. See what happens.
? Noteworthy: The Huskies bring a two-game losing streak into the game that follows an eight-day break for final exams. Washington has played its best basketball at home, but lost its last outing in Bank of America Arena to Pepperdine 74-56. Coach Tia Jackson is in her first season and has five freshmen on the roster. One, Katelan Redmon, leads the team in scoring at 13.5 points per game. ... The Buckeyes are led in scoring (17.5) and rebounding (10.6) by freshman center Jantel Lavender, who has double-doubles in the past three games. Second-leading scorer Marscilla Packer has been held below double figures in the past three games. Packer needs three three-point baskets to tie Jamie Lewis (181) for fourth place in program history. OSU won last season's meeting in Columbus 84-79 behind 25 points from Packer.
? Next: vs. Youngstown State,
7 p.m. Wednesday, Value City Arena
-- Jim Massie
