Thoughts on NCAA seeding

Texas A&M just defeated Oklahoma 74-67 to win the Big 12 Tournament and wrap up that conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The Aggies are in the discussion now for a No. 2 seed. The No. 1 seeds seem…
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Buckeyes move up in AP poll, etc.

Ohio State climbed two spots in the Associated Press top 25 poll today, moving from No. 10 to No. 8. The Buckeyes went 3-0 in winning the Big Ten Tournament and are idle now until the NCAA Tournament begins in…
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Hawkeyes fly high in first half

Iowa is off to a torrid start and up 16-9 at the 14:57 timeout. Sophomore Kelly Krei already has 10 points for the Hawkeyes, who are 7 for 12 from the field.

Jantel Lavender scored six quick points for Ohio State, but missed a layup with her last shot Jaime Printy has two free throws for Iowa as play resumes. She made both and it is 18-9.

Lavender just broke an 11-0 run with a basket and it is 20-11. But Iowa is shredding the OSU defense. Krei drove the lane again for hs fifth field goal and has 12 points. Tayler Hill knocked down a three for Ohio State, but Jaime Printy answered with a 30 footer and it is 25-14 at the 11:31 timeout.

Hill will be at the free throw line when play resumes for two shots. Hill made both free throws and the game has gotten wild. It is 27-20 Iowa at the 7:52 timeout. Samantha Prahalis is on the bench with two fouls. Iowa center Morgan Johnson just picked up two quick fouls and suddenly has three.

Iowa sitll is intent on getting the ball inside but has missed a couple of shots. The Buckeyes really aren’t capitalizing. Lavender has a basket and two free throws over the past three minutes. That is the extent of the OSU offense. Brittany Johnson ended the drought with a three pointer.

Johnson nailed another three to cut the deficit to 29-28, but Wahlin answered with a three for the Hawkeyes.

Lavender went to the bench with her second foul with 4:19 to play. Kachine Alexander penetrated for a score and was fouled by Andrea Walker. She made the free throw and the deficit is seven again at 35-28.

Johnson is headed to the bench with two fouls with 2;55 to play. Walker drew her second 25 seconds later. Wahlin stole a pass by Maria Moeller and went coast to coast for the layup and Iowa leads 41-30.

Walker just called for her third foul and the Buckeyes look like they are in deep trouble. Hill, however stopped the bleeding with a long three-pointer. Iowa leads 41-33 with 25.5 seconds left in the half. Wahlin missed a three and the teams headed to the locker rooms.

The Buckeyes were 12 for 30 at the half (40 percent). Iowa is 16 for 37 (43.2) but has scored 22 points in the paint with its guards attacking the middle the way Ohio State did last night against Wisconsin.

Iowa has turned 11 Ohio State turnovers into 14 points.

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Buckeyes rally to win 66-64.

Ohio State is going to have to raise its play in the second half to avoid an Iowa upset. The Hawkeyes, who can seize the automatic conference bid for the NCAA Tournament, seem to understand the urgency of the moment.

Even though the Buckeyes are safely in the NCAA tourney, they need a better showing than they have given so far to be considered for a No. 2 seed.

Sammy Prahalis did not have a good first half. She was scoreless with two assists and three turnovers. She also watched the final eight minutes after picking up two fouls. She was enraged by the second call and nearly drew a technical.

Iowa center Morgan Johnson has three fouls coming into the second half as does OSU reserve center Andrea Walker. Walker was in the game because Jantel Lavender had two fouls. Brittany Johnson also had two first-half fouls.

The Hawkeyes lead every conceivable category except rebounding where the Buckeyes have a 22-19 edge.

The second half begins and Prahalis already has a third foul. Kamille Wahlin and Kelly Krei have two three-pointers and Kachine Alexander is at the line for two free throws. She makes two and the Buckeyes trail 49-33. It is getting ugly. Prahalis is out at the 17:12 mark.

Cherise Daniel, a lightly used senior, has been in the game for the a couple of minutes. She committed a foul on Alexander and the TV timeout kicked in with 15:54 to play.

Prahalis and Tayler Hill enter the game with 15:12 to play and the Buckeyes down 51-37.

The Buckeyes discovered their heartbeat. Prahalis hit two free throws, her first points of the game, and Tayler Hill scored on a baseline drive. Sarah Schulze took a charge from Krei and Lavender scored on an assist from Hill. It is 51-43 Iowa with 11:58 left. Prahalis just took a charge from Kachine Alexander, who suddenly has four fouls.

Lavender scored at 10:42 and the Buckeyes are within 51-45. Prahalis cuts it to 51-47 but Wahlin and Krei hit back-to-back threes to jump the lead back to 57-49 with 9:09 left. Lavender scored inside again and play has stopped for a shot clock problem. That is three times this half.

Timeout with 7:57 remaining and the Buckeyes still trail 57-51. Play resumes and Lavender has a three-point play. It is 57-54 Iowa. Wahlin answers with a score and Hill throws the ball out of bounds.

Lavender scores and Prahalis follows with a spectacular layup. Ohio State has tied the game at 60-60 with 5 minutes left. Iowa calls timeout. Next two points for Lavender will gie her 2,000 career points.

Prahalis missed a jumper for the lead but the Buckeyes have the ball back with 3:59 remaining.. Play resumed and Gabby Machado fouled Lavender. TV timeout. Jantel will go to the free throw line. Lavender makes both. Ohio State leads 62–60 and she has 2,000 career points.

Wahlin answers with two points and it is tied at 62-62. Printy scored on a back-door cut and Iowa is up 64-62. Ohio State missed three shots on its next possession. Printy missed a three but the Hawkeyes had the offensive rebound until Little stole the ball. Lavender puts back a miss and it is tied 64-64 with 46.6 seconds left.

Iowa misses inside but hte rebound goes out of bounds. Iowa has the ball. Prahalis forces the turnover from Wahlin with 27 seconds left. OSU coach Jim Foster calls timeout with 13.2 left.

Lavender is fouled with 1.9 seconds left. She makes both free throws. OSU leads 66-64. Iowa needs to travel length of court for a chance to win or tie. The Hawkeyes are coming back from their timeout. Wahlin misses at buzzer. OSU is celebrating its second consecutive Big Ten Tournament championship win. Lavender has 35 points and 10 rebounds and should be the tourney MVP.

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Hawkeyes flying early

Iowa is off to a torrid start and up 16-9 at the 14:57 timeout. Sophomore Kelly Krei already has 10 points for the Hawkeyes, who are 7 for 12 from the field. Jantel Lavender scored six quick points for Ohio…
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Ohio State,, Iowa meet for tourney title

The Buckeyes and Hawkeyes are 23 minutes from tipoff in the championship game of the Big Ten Tournament. Ohio State (29-4) is the top seed and defending champion. Iowa (19-12) is the third seed and the Cinderella story of this…
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Buckeyes face Badgers

Ohio State and Wisconsin are about to tip off in the second semifinal of the Big Ten Tournament. The Buckeyes (28-4) are the defending champoins and the top seed. Wisconsin (21-8) is the fourth seed. Ohio State won both games…
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Iowa upsets Michigan State

The first semifinal in the Big Ten women’s basketball tournament is underway between second-seeded Michigan State and third-seeded Iowa. Allyssa DeHaan, the 6-9 senior center for the Spartans, is not in the starting lineup. She left yesterday’s game with back…
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Michigan State, Iowa game starts

The first semifinal in the Big Ten women’s basketball tournament is underway between second-seeded Michigan State and third-seeded Iowa. Allyssa DeHaan, the 6-9 senior center for the Spartans, is not in the starting lineup. She left yesterday’s game with back…
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Wisconsin to face Buckeyes in semis

Wisconsin reached the semifinals of the Big Ten Tournament tonight with an emphatic 73-51 victory over Purdue in Conseco Fieldhouse. The fourth-seeded Badgers (21-9) will face first-seeded Ohio State (28-4) in the second game Saturday night around 7 o’clock. Second-seeded…
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