COLUMBUS, Ohio - At exactly 5:04 p.m. ET, the third-ranked Ohio State women's basketball team began its much anticipated 2009-10 season with a 91-68 win over Eastern Illinois Friday in St. John Arena in the first round of the WNIT. Backed by junior center Jantel Lavender's 38th career double-double on 24 points and 13 rebounds, the Buckeyes improved to 35-10 all-time in season openers.
The Buckeyes will now face either Chicago State or Bowling Green State in second-round action of the WNIT at 2 p.m. Sunday in Value City Arena.
Junior forward Sarah Schulze had a career day with 18 points and nine boards. Shooting 50 percent from the 3-point line (3-6), Schulze tied her career high in 3-pointers made, including a shot-clock buzzer beater in the second half to increase the OSU lead to 82-59. She also bettered her personal best of 3-pointers attempted (previous high was 5).
Schulze proved pivotal in helping to fuel Ohio State's 12-5 run to open the second half. At 18:14, she took a fastbreak layup to the basket and was fouled. Converting the old-fashioned three-point play, the Buckeye from Anna, Ohio, again was fouled on the next Ohio State possession. Making both free throws, Ohio State took a 49-34 lead. It was from that point Ohio State took command of the game, outscoring Eastern Illinois in the half, 51-38.
Ohio State was up by 19 points at the 8:40 mark in the first half and despite a 16-5 Eastern Illinois run over a 6:07 span a little under the halfway point of the first, the Buckeyes were able to take a 40-30 lead into the lockerroom at halftime.
Lavender nearly recorded her 38th career double-double in the first half on 11 points and nine rebounds, but wasted little time in securing her 10th rebound in the second. Following a Maggie Kloak missed jumper, the Cleveland, Ohio, native hit the boards once again.
Sophomore guard Samantha Prahalis put up eight points and eight assists in 31 minutes.
Three Buckeyes earned their first collegiate points in the victory.
After missing the 2008-09 season because of a shoulder injury suffered during the preseason, redshirt-freshman guard Amber Stokes scored her first collegiate points in the first half. Stokes, a Central Ohio native from Gahanna, scored from the left wing to give the Buckeyes a 17-8 lead with 12:52 left in the half.
Freshman guard Tayler Hill quickly made her presence felt early in the game as the Minneapolis, Minn., native scored on a floater inside the left side of the paint about a minute and a half in the game. Hill, the sister of senior guard P.J. Hill of the Ohio State men's basketball team, was tied for second on the team in first half points with seven. Hill continued her scoring efforts in the second half when she opened the half with a jumper, extending the Buckeye lead to 42-30. She finished the game with nine points and nine boards in 26 minutes of action.
Highly touted recruit Emilee Harmon from Pickerington Central scored on a putback following an Alison Jackson miss with 17 seconds left in the game.
Eastern Illinois' lone returning starter, senior Dominique Sims, was limited to six points after leading the Panthers in scoring a season ago with an 8.6 average. True freshman Kelsey Wyss led Eastern Illinois in scoring with 12.
The Buckeyes will face either Chicago State or Bowling Green State in second-round action of the WNIT at 2 p.m. Sunday in Value City Arena.
Postgame Notes
- Friday was the first meeting between Ohio State and Eastern Illinois.
- Ohio State is 12-2 all-time against members of the Ohio Valley Conference.
- Ohio State has won its last 15 regular-season openers and has not lost a home opener since 1994.
- The Buckeyes are 35-10 all-time in season openers.
- Jantel Lavender recorded her 38th career double-double with 24 points and 13 rebounds.
- Jantel Lavender has now scored in double-figures in all 67 career games - the longest active streak in Division I.
- Ohio State is 109-9 at home under Jim Foster and 82-5 since the start of the 2004-05 season.
- Ohio State has won 93 of its last 94 games against unranked opponents.
- Jim Foster is now 182-47 at Ohio State and 686-272 overall.
- Sarah Schulze made her first career start and recorded career highs with 18 points and nine rebounds.
- Ohio State outshot EIU 19-7 at the free throw line. Ohio State is now 43-2 since the start of the 2007-08 season when the make more at the stripe.
Postgame Quotes
Jim Foster, head coach Ohio State
On Ohio State's defense
"We got better as the game went on but we have things to work on. These first games are difficult with no films, but we did do some things better as we went along."
On Ohio State's starters
"That group at the beginning, all five can score and all five can shoot threes."
Samantha Prahalis, sophomore guard
On starting her second season as a Buckeye
"I know better where my team is and where to put the ball this year. I have a better overall feel."
Jantel Lavender, junior center
On what can be taken away from the first game
"We learned what we needed to work on. We did a lot of good things, but as a team, we still have things to work on."
On Sarah Schulze
"She can hit the threes and brings a lot of excitement to the court. She brings out tons of emotion."
On EIU
"The play hard and have a lot of movement. They will win a lot of games this year. They do all the little things."
Sarah Schulze, junior forward
On starting her first game
"I was nervous. I'm sure that's how most people are when they start their first game. I just wanted to play hard and bring the emotion like Jantel said."
On blocking
"I like blocking shots. That's fun. I had the one big block when I think I got a little carried away with it."
Eastern Illinois head coach Brady Sallee
On the game
"Tonight we saw why Ohio State is the third-ranked team in the country. They were impressive throughout the game. Of course we're disappointed with the outcome. But we have to look at this as a starting point."
On the 25-8 run in the first half
"They put some good runs together early. We are going to focus on the 17-0 run Ohio State had to prevent the same thing in the future. We planned on facing adversity, with the crowd and their size. Luckily, we started blocking out and taking care of the ball better and we were pretty good when we did it right."
On the emphasis put on defending the post tonight
"Anyone that knows how we play defensively wouldn't really be surprised. Most teams that we play will learn they will have to throw it over the top, but Ohio State has a lot of size and they were able to score when they executed."
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