Feb. 24, 2005
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Jessica Davenport scored 21 points and played all 40 minutes for the fourth consecutive game in the No. 4 Buckeyes' 57-51 victory over Purdue on Thursday night.
It was the first win at Mackey Arena in more than 10 years for the Buckeyes (26-3, 13-2 Big Ten). The victory moved Ohio State into a tie with Penn State for second place in the conference standings, a half-game behind Michigan State.
Purdue (15-11, 8-7) trailed the entire game, falling behind by 12 in the first half before Katie Gearlds led a modest comeback. She scored Purdue's final basket of the first half and her team's first nine points after the break to bring the Boilermakers within 33-28.
Ohio State then broke open the game with a 3-pointer by Caity Matter and two straight baskets by Davenport. The Buckeyes stretched the lead to 46-33 with just over 7 minutes to go.
Purdue cut the lead to four with 9 seconds left on two free throws by Gearlds, but Matter iced the game with two foul shots of her own 6 seconds later.
Brandie Hoskins added 14 points and Matter had 11 for Ohio State. Gearlds finished with 16 points and Erin Lawless added 13 for the Boilermakers.
Lawless had nine of Purdue's first 11 points, including a three-point play and another basket that brought the Boilermakers within 12-11. She left after picking up her second foul, however, and the Buckeyes took advantage of her absence. Aside from Lawless, none of the Boilermakers scored more than two points in the opening half.
Davenport, who had Ohio State's first triple-double in a loss at Michigan State on Sunday, scored six points during a 13-2 run, and a 3-pointer by Hoskins gave the Buckeyes their biggest lead of the half at 25-13.
STEVE HERMAN
AP Sports Writer