Jan. 2, 2005
By RUSTY MILLER
AP Sports Writer
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - Jessica Davenport had 24 points and 12 rebounds to help No. 9 Ohio State recover from a sluggish start and beat No. 20 Purdue 63-50 on Sunday.
Brandie Hoskins added 13 points and six assists for the Buckeyes (12-2), who were coming off a 69-62 loss at Penn State on Thursday night in their Big Ten opener.
Katie Gearlds had 12 points and Erin Lawless 10 for Purdue (8-4). Lawless had a career-high 29 in a 72-67 win over Wisconsin on Thursday.
The Boilermakers had won the last four meetings with Ohio State and nine of the last 10. Troubled by ballhandling problems - they totaled 24 turnovers - they trailed by as many as 19 points and never got the lead below double figures in the last 13 minutes.
Ahead 20-17 after a dismal first half for both teams, the Buckeyes pulled away with 6-0, 7-2 and 9-0 runs in the first 11{ minutes of the second half.
After hitting just eight of their first 30 shots from the field, the Buckeyes hit 12 of their next 20 to pull away.
Davenport scored eight of Ohio State's first 10 points in the second half to expand the lead to 30-22.
Purdue went 8{ minutes without scoring a point in the opening half - yet Ohio State didn't take advantage. The Buckeyes were just 3-for-15 from the field over the same period, turning a 6-5 deficit into a 13-6 lead.
The Boilermakers had 17 turnovers before they picked up their ninth point but closed the half with a 9-0 run.
Ohio State's 28-percent shooting in the opening half included three breakaway layups after bad Purdue passes at the other end.
Caity Matter chipped in with 10 points for the Buckeyes, who ran their home record to 8-0 this season.