Dec. 1, 2012

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COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- Tayler Hill scored 20 points to lead No. 15 Ohio State to its 27th consecutive home victory, 78-33 over Evansville in a non-conference game Saturday.

Ashley Adams added 14 points and all 13 players scored for the Buckeyes (5-2), who led 40-23 at halftime and began the second half with a 25-0 run to take complete command.

Ohio State, coming off a 57-54 loss to No. 22 North Carolina, shot 63 percent (17 of 27) in the first half and 63.6 percent (14 of 22) in the second. The Purple Aces (2-5) struggled to a 23.1 percent overall mark (12 of 52), including just 15.6 percent (5 of 32) in the second half while facing a ranked opponent for the first time this season.

Amber Stokes and Ameryst Alston, who made her first career start along with Aleksandra Dobranic, added eight points each and Alston also had eight rebounds for the Buckeyes. Alston also added a three assists and a steal. 

Samantha Heck led Evansville with nine points.

The Buckeyes have a week off for exams and return to action Dec. 9 vs. Lafayette.

Postgame Notes

• The 31 points by Evansville were the fewest given up by Ohio State since Colgate scored 26 points Nov. 24, 2007.
• The Buckeyes opened the second half with a 23-0 run to take a 63-25 lead at the 8:13 mark.
• For the second time this season, Ohio State shot more than 60 percent in a game. Against Evansville, the Buckeyes were 63.3 percent from the field and vs. Cincinnati Nov. 14, Ohio State shot 67.3 from the field.
• Ohio State has won 27 consecutive home games dating to the 2010-11 season, the longest active streak in the Big Ten and third longest in the nation behind Stanford (81) and Baylor (43). Ohio State's last loss at home was Feb. 6, 2011 to Northwestern.
• Since the start of the 2009-10 season, Ohio State is 72-3 when scoring at least 70 points.
• Ohio State has hit at least one 3-pointer in 126 consecutive games.
• Redshirt junior Sasha Dobranic and freshman Ameryst Alston earned the first starts of their careers.
• Senior Tayler Hill has scored in double-figures in 41 consecutive games, the longest active streak in the Big Ten.
• Every Buckeye in action reached the scoring column for the second time this season (vs. Wright State Nov. 25).

Postgame Quotes

Jim Foster Ohio State head coach
On recent changes in the lineup
"I wanted Tayler Hill away from the ball more. I felt we were messing up our opportunities to score and we wanted to establish the low block with Ashley Adams and Darryce Moore. I like the defensive mentality of our group."

On starting freshman guard Ameryst Alston
"I just saw it every day with her. I kept my eyes open and liked her work ethic from the get go. She's very confident and I like players who go out and get after it. In this day, there are a lot of players who are anointed starters and I felt like she earned it."

On Ohio State's defensive effort
 "Defense is an important dimension to the team. I like players who are comfortable with their knees bent in the defensive position, but overall we blocked some shots and had solid ball movement. The effort is solid." 

Tayler Hill, Ohio State senior guard

On the team's performance after a loss at North Carolina

"We refocused the last couple of days in practice. Coming off the loss, there were some things we could have done differently. We focused on those in the game today."

On Ohio State's defense in the second half

"Throughout the whole game we played excellent defense. In the second half, they only scored 10 points. We had excellent energy today and we didn't give up a play."

Ameryst Alston, Ohio State freshman guard 

On learning she would start the game

"We talked about it at practice yesterday. I'm just happy to be able to help my teammates in any way I can. We are much more effective when Tayler [Hill] is able to run and I can get the ball up to her. My job is to get the ball up to the offense."

On what she will remember most about her first start

"We came out here really effective, playing real `team basketball.' We didn't take any plays off no matter what the score was."

Ashley Adams, Ohio State junior center

On using her size to score in the paint

"I felt like we [used my size well]. We could have scored a few more times, but I think we did well overall."

On playing defense

"We're starting to [play defense well]. We can only get better."