COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio State freshman center Jantel Lavender added more hardware to her collection Tuesday after being named Associated Press honorable mention All-America.

Lavender was voted the 2008 Big Ten co-Player of the Year (coaches), becoming the first Big Ten freshman – men or women’s – to win player of the year honors. She also was named the Big Ten player of the week for a record four times, the most by a freshman in conference history.

Lavender was the second-leading freshman scorer (17.6 ppg) and third-leading freshman rebounder (9.9 rpg) in the country and ranked among the Top 5 in the Big Ten in scoring, rebounding and FG percentage (.513). She recorded 13 double-doubles and scored in double-figures in all 31 games.

The Cleveland native set Ohio State freshman records for field goals (232) and rebounds (306) in a season while her 306 rebounds is tied for second all-time with Jessica Davenport who pulled down 306 during her senior season in 2006-07. Lavender averaged the second-most points per game by a freshman in Ohio State history with 17.6 ppg and set an Ohio State freshman record with 36 points – including 16 rebounds – in the win at Penn State Feb. 28. She was 12-of-14 from the FT line, hitting her first 12 attempts. 

This marks the fourth-consecutive year at least one Ohio State player has been named to the AP All-America team after Davenport was a first and second team choice from 2005-07 and Caity Matter an honorable mention pick in 2005. Lavender is the first Ohio State freshman to receive All-America recognition since Katie Smith in 1993.