No. 2 Seed Ohio State Women’s Basketball Set for Rematch vs. No. 3 Rutgers in Philadelphia – Ohio State Buckeyes
3/24/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
March 24, 2005
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THE TIP
The Ohio State women’s basketball team (30-4) will make its first appearance in the regional semifinals of the NCAA tournament since 1993 when its faces Rutgers (27-6) at approximately 2:30 p.m. Sunday at the Liacouras Center in Philadelphia.
The No. 2 seed Buckeyes earned their bid to the “Sweet 16” with an 86-45 win over No. 15 seed Holy Cross in the first round March 20 and a 75-65 victory vs. No. 7 Maryland in the second round Tuesday.
Ohio State and Rutgers have met once this season, with the Buckeyes claiming a 52-50 decision Jan. 16 in Value City Arena. The teams clashed in 2004 as well, with Rutgers scoring a 56-53 victory Jan. 4 in Piscataway, N.J.
DAVENPORT NAMED ASSOCIATED PRESS FIRST-TEAM ALL-AMERICAN
Jessica Davenport was named an Associated Press First-Team All-American March 23. The voting was conducted by 45 members of the national media panel, who also vote in the weekly AP national rankings poll. Davenport leads the Buckeyes this season with 19.3 points per game and 9.1 rebounds per game.
Louisiana State’s Seimone Augustus, Kansas State’s Kendra Wecker, Duke’s Monique Currie and Texas Christian’s Sandora Irvin join Davenport on the first team.
Davenport is Ohio State’s second Associated Press All-American, but is the initial first-team selection. Former Buckeye Katie Smith earned second-team honors in her senior season in 1996.
OSU REACHES REGIONAL SEMIFINALS FOR FIRST TIME SINCE 1993
With the second-round victory Tuesday vs. Maryland, Ohio State earned its first berth to the regional semifinals since 1993, when the Buckeyes finished second in the nation with an 84-82 loss to Texas Tech in theCAA championship game.
Overall, Ohio State wil make its seventh appearance in the national semifinals.
After the second-round win vs. Maryland, Ohio State has played in 11 second-round games in its 14 appearances in the NCAA tournament. The Buckeyes improved to 7-4 in those contests and snapped a two-game losing streak in the second round. Last year, Ohio State, seeded sixth, suffered a 63-48 defeat to No. 3-seed Boston College at St. John Arena in Columbus. In 2003, No. 5-seed Louisiana Tech eliminated the No. 4-seeded Buckeyes via a 74-61 score.
30 WINS A FIRST FOR BUCKEYES, BUT NOT FOR FOSTER
With the 75-65 victory over Maryland Tuesday, the 2004-05 Ohio State team became the first to win 30 games in a single-season in program history. The86-45 win over Holy Cross in the first round set the record for season victories with 29.
The 30-win season for Ohio State also serves as the third 30-win campaign for OSU head coach Jim Foster in his 27-year career. Two of his Vanderbilt teams – 1992-93 and 2001-02 – posted 30-win seasons. Purdue holds the mark for most wins in a season by a Big Ten team with 34 in its 1999 national championship season.
FOSTER AND STRINGER SHARE ELITE COMPANY
Jim Foster, who is serving as head coach for his third Division I women’s basketball program at Ohio State, is just one of seven coaches all-time to lead three different teams to a national Top 25 ranking by the Associated Press. Rutgers head coach Vivian Stringer is another member of the select group.
In Foster’s first tenure as a head coach at St. Joseph’s, the Hawks were rated in the Top 25 a total of 35 weeks in 13 seasons.
Foster spent 11 years at Vanderbilt, where he led the Commodores to a Top 25 ranking for 164 cumulative weeks.
At Ohio State, Foster has had the Buckeyes among the nation’s best for 38 weeks.
Foster ranks second on the list to Stringer for most weeks spent in the AP Top 25 at three separate programs. Foster’s teams have been in the AP Top 25 for a total of 237 weeks, while Stringer, who coached at Cheyney for 11 seasons and Iowa for another 11 years before landing at Rutgers in 1995, has seen her teams rated in the Top 25 for 326 weeks.
FOSTER RETURNS HOME, OTHER PHILLY TIES
Ohio State Jim Foster will make a return trip to his hometown of Philadelphia this week for the NCAA regional semifinals. A 1980 graduate of Temple, Foster’s coaching career began at Bishop McDevitt High School. Foster, who attended Cardinal Dougherty High School, then moved on to coach St. Joseph’s for 13 seasons, amassing a 248-126 record.
OSU assistant coach Kelly Meury played for Foster at St. Joseph’s from 1985-88 and served as a graduate assistant with the Hawks from 1990-92. Meury is a native of Camp Hill, Pa.
Additionally, Debbie Black, who is the video coordinator for Ohio State, is a Pa. native and played her college ball under Coach Foster at St. Joesph’s, ending her playing career in 1988.
BLANTON TAKES LIKING TO POSTSEASON STAGE
Ohio State sophomore forward Stephanie Blanton tied a career-high with 12 points against Maryland in the second round. The game marked the third time in her career she scored 12 points. Blanton connected for 12 points earlier this season at Ohio Dec. 1. Blanton converted 5-of-6 from the field, tying a career high for field goals in a game.
Blanton, who started her second straight contest and sixth this season, also tied a career-high with 29 minutes Tuesday.
Blanton established a career-high in NCAA games in minutes (29), points (12), rebounds (6) and assists (3).
In four career NCAA tournament games, Blanton is shooting 77 percent from the field on a 10-13 figure, including a 7-of-10 clip in the 2005 tournament.
STARTING FIVE CARRIES LOAD IN WIN VS. MARYLAND; FOUR BUCKEYES REACH DOUBLE-DIGITS
The Buckeyes have been a deep team throughout the season with eight players averaging at least 10 minutes per outing. In the second round vs. Maryland, Ohio State’s starting five accounted for 73 of 75 points. Four of the five starters registered double-digits in points. With the win Tuesday, Ohio State upped its record to 8-0 when four players reach double-digits in points.
The most players to reach double-figures in an NCAA game for Ohio State is five by the 1985-86 team in an NCAA regional semifinal against Maryland March 16. The Buckeyes topped the Terrapins, 87-71.
HOSKINS CARRIES HOT HAND AT HEIGHT OF SEASON
Sophomore guard Brandie Hoskins netted 22 points vs. Maryland on 10-of-15 shooting from the field. The 22-point total was one shy of her career-high of 23 set in the Big Ten tournament semifinal vs. Minnesota (3/6/05). The 10 field goals tied a career-high for a single game, which also came against the Golden Gophers March 6. The 15 attempts were the most in a single game for Hoskins in her two seasons as a Buckeye.
Hoskins has scored at least 14 points in each of her last seven games and eight of her last nine. During that streak, Hoskins has upped her points per game average from 11.6 to 13.2.
Hoskins set career-bests for an NCAA tournament game in points (22), field goals (10), field goal attempts (15) and rebounds (6). She added five assists, the second most for Hoskins in NCAA play.
In round one vs. Holy Cross, Hoskins set a season-high with eight assists.
BUCKEYES HANDLE WITH CARE IN NCAA TOURNAMENT
Ohio State committed 10 turnovers in the second round vs. Maryland. In the first round against Holy Cross, the Buckeyes tied a season-low with eight miscues.
So far in the 2005 NCAA Tournament, Ohio State is averaging 9.0 turnovers per game, compared to 14.2 through 32 games prior to NCAA action.
OHIO STATE HAS BEST ASSIST/TURNOVER RATIO AFTER FIRST TWO ROUNDS OF NCAA TOURNEY
After two rounds of the NCAA tournament, the Buckeyes led all teams with a 2.39 assist-to-turnover ratio. In two games, Ohio State dished 43 assists as a team compared to just 18 turnovers vs. Holy Cross and Maryland.
MATTER 10TH BUCKEYE ALL-TIME TO TOP 1,500 CAREER POINTS
Senior guard Caity Matter came into the game Tuesday against Maryland needing just one point to reach 1,500 for her career. She finished the evening with 16 points to set her career total at 1,515. Matter is the 10th Buckeye all-time to score at least 1,500 points in her career. Matter ranks No. 10 all-time at Ohio State with her 1,515 career tallies. Matter moved past the 1,500-point mark with a made jump shot with 15:26 left in the first half.
She needs 25 points to surpass former teammate Courtney Coleman for ninth place all-time. Coleman ended her career with 1,540.
NO. 2 SEED HIGHEST FOR OHIO STATE SINCE 1993 NCAA TOURNAMENT
Ohio State’s No. 2 seeding in the Philadelphia Regional for the 2005 NCAA Tournament is the highest for a Buckeye squad since the 1992-93 National Runner-up team entered the NCAA tournament with a No. 1 seed in the East Regional. That season, the Buckeyes dropped an 84-82 decision to Texas Tech in the national title game.
BUCKEYES BREAK ALL-TIME SINGLE-SEASON WINS RECORD
Ohio State picked up win No. 29 on the season with its 86-45 victory against Holy Cross March 20 in the first round of the NCAA tournament to establish a program record for wins in a single season. The 29th victory surpassed the 28 contests won by the 1992-93 national runner-up squad that finished with a 28-4 record. The 1984-85 team also recorded 28 wins against three losses.
Purdue holds the all-time Big Ten mark for wins in a season with 34 in 1998-99.
ANOTHER DOUBLE-DOUBLE FOR DAVENPORT
Sophomore center Jessica Davenport recorded her 13th double-double of the season (at least 10 points and 10 rebounds) and 17th of her career with 23 points and 11 rebounds vs. Holy Cross. The double-double against the Crusaders is the first for Davenport in her four career NCAA tournament games.
Davenport is the eighth Buckeye all-time to register a double-double in an NCAA tournament game. LaToya Turner was the last Buckeye to accomplish the feat March 20, 2004 with 10 points and 11 rebounds against West Virginia in the first round at St. John Arena.
Former Buckeye Tracey Hall (1985-88) posted five double-doubles in the NCAA tournament during her career.
ALLEN MAKES NCAA DEBUT
Senior guard Ashley Allen, who missed the previous two Ohio State appearances in the NCAA tournament because of injury, played in her first career NCAA game in the first-round victory over Holy Cross. She scored seven points, handed out four assists and swiped three steals in her NCAA debut vs. the Crusaders.
Against Maryland, she handed out a game-high eight assists to set a personal-best in NCAA play. Her season-high in assists is nine and career-best is 10 vs. Wayne State Nov. 11, 2002.
Allen also was 2-of-3 from 3-point territory, including a buzzer-beating make from well-beyond the arc to give the Buckeyes a 35-34 lead heading into halftime. Allen added another three steals vs. the Terrapins.
BUCKEYES PAINTING THE LANE SCARLET AND GRAY
Tuesday vs. Maryland, the Buckeyes were outscored in the paint for just the fifth time in 34 games this season. Maryland claimed a 36-to-30 edge in the lane over Ohio State. The Buckeyes are 4-1 in contests when their opponent scores more in the lane.
Minnesota dropped in 40 points in the lane vs. Ohio State’s 38 in the 66-63 overtime loss in the Big Ten tournament semis.
Northwestern scored 32 points inside vs. OSU’s 20 Jan. 23. On Jan. 9, Liberty outscored Ohio State 28-18 and on Jan. 16, Rutgers scored 28 points vs. OSU’s 26 in the paint. Additionally, Penn State tied Ohio State inside with 34 points apiece Feb. 27.
DAVENPORT THIRD SOPHOMORE TO SCORE 1,000 CAREER POINTS
Sophomore center Jessica Davenport cleared the 1,000-point career mark with a lay-in at the 3:24 mark of the first half against Minnesota in the Big Ten tournament semifinal. Davenport is the third Ohio State player to reach the milestone in her sophomore season, joining former All-Americans Katie Smith (1993-96) and Frani Washington (1978-80) as the only Buckeyes to complete the feat as sophomores. Overall, Davenport is the 24th Buckeye to reach 1,000 points for her career.
Smith reached the 1,000-point mark Feb. 13, 1994 at Purdue. It was her 52nd career game. Smith is the youngest Buckeye to score 1,000 points at 19 years, 8 months and 9 days.
Davenport played her 63rd career game in the Big Ten semis vs. Minnesota. As of that game, her age was 19 years, 9 months and 10 days.
DAVENPORT NAMED FINALIST FOR WOODEN AWARD
Jessica Davenport was named a finalist for the 2005 John R. Wooden Award by the Wooden committee March 8. Davenport, who was named consensus 2005 Big Ten Player of the Year March 1, is one of 17 to be listed on the official voting ballot for the Wooden award, which recognizes the top player in the nation.
The 2005 Women’s Wooden award winner will be announced at 1 p.m. EST April 9 during a live, national broadcast on CBS. The announcement will be made at the Los Angeles Athletic Club.
A national poll was conducted by the John R. Wooden Award National Advisory Board to determine the ballot for the 2004-05 Wooden Award All-America Team. The Top 17 selection has been based upon each individual’s performance and her team’s success this season. The John R. Wooden Award was created in 1976 and is one of the most prestigious awards in college basketball.
Davenport is one of four Big Ten players on the final ballot. Minnesota’s Janel McCarville, Michigan State’s Lindsay Bowen and Penn State’s Tanisha Wright join Davenport on the list.
DAVENPORT NAMED TO KODAK/WBCA ALL-REGION 6 TEAM, FINALIST FOR ALL-AMERICAN HONORS
Jessica Davenport was named to the Kodak/Women’s Basketball Coaches Association All-Region 6 Team March 14. As an all-region selection, Davenport becomes a finalist for 2005 Kodak/WBCA All-America honors.
HOSKINS SELECTED TO BIG TEN ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Brandie Hoskins was named to the 2005 All-Big Ten Tournament squad after combining for 37 points and nine assists in two games.
In the 70-46 victory over Wisconsin in the tournament quarterfinals, Hoskins contributed 14 points and tied a season-high with seven assists.
In the overtime loss to Minnesota in the semifinals, the Dayton, Ohio native poured in a career-best 23 points on of 10-of-14 shooting from the field. She scored 17 of her 23 in the second half and overtime, while recording two of her three assists in the final two periods.
HOSKINS POURS IN CAREER-HIGH 23 POINTS AGAINST MINNESOTA
Sophomore guard Brandie Hoskins netted a career-high 23 points in the Big Ten tournament semifinal against Minnesota. That performance topped her previous high of 22, which came against Penn Dec. 21, 2003. Hoskins scored 21 points vs. Penn this season, which accounted for her previous season-best output.
MATTER NAMED TO 2004-05 WBCA ALL-STAR CHALLENGE ROSTER
Caity Matter was selected as a member of the 2005 WBCA All-Star Challenge roster in an announcement released by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association March 9. Matter is one of 17 players from across the nation chosen to participate in the game played April 2 in Indianapolis during the 2005 NCAA Women’s Final Four.
The All-Star challenge will be played at Nicolson Hall on the campus of the University of Indianapolis as part of the 24th annual WBCA National Convention. The WBCA All-Star Challenge roster will change if any of the aforementioned players participate with their respective teams in the Final Four. Alternates will be selected based on voting results.
The game will be the second of a doubleheader-event featured during the “WBCA Night of All-Stars.” Fans will have an opportunity to watch and collect autographs from the potential future WNBA stars, as well as see the WBCA High School All-America Game.
DAVENPORT FINALLY TAKES A SEAT, STREAK OF 40-MINUTE GAMES SNAPPED
Jessica Davenport’s streak of 40-minute games ended at five when she played 29 minutes in the Buckeyes’ 70-46 quarterfinal win against Wisconsin March 4. Davenport played the full 40 minutes at Iowa (Feb. 13), vs. Minnesota (Feb. 17), at Michigan State (Feb. 20), at Purdue (Feb.24) and vs. Penn State (Feb. 27). The last time she played less than 40 minutes was vs. Michigan Feb. 10, logging 28 minutes.
60 IS THE LIMIT NO. FOR OSU DEFENSE
Ohio State sports a spotless 27-0 record when holding its opponents to less than 60 points in a game. The Buckeyes, who held St. Joseph’s to a season low 29 points in the second game of the season Nov. 14, kept opponents below 60 points in six of their first seven games this season.
In conference play, including the postseason tournament, Ohio State has denied the 60-point barrier to 14 of its 18 league opponents, winning all 14 contests.
Against ranked opponents, Ohio State has limited 10-of-14 of the nation’s best clubs to 60 points or less, winning all 10 of those games.
OPPONENTS CHIPPING PAINT OFF THE RIM AGAINST BUCKEYES
In its 34 games this season, Ohio State has held 32 of its opponents to less that 50 percent shooting from the field, including a 29.1 percent clip (16-for-55) by Holy Cross in the first round of the NCAA tournament.
In the Big Ten semifinals March 6, Minnesota became the first team to connect on more than half its shots since Iowa completed the same feat Jan. 13 in an 80-57 loss in Columbus. The Hawkeyes went 21-42 from the floor.
The Gophers came out on the winning end, hitting 51.9 percent of their field goals (27-52).
RECAPPING THE BIG TEN TOURNAMENT
Ohio State used a balanced scoring attack to advance to the semifinals of the 2005 Big Ten Tournament with a 70-46 win vs. Wisconsin in the quarterfinal round March 4. Ohio State’s Jessica Davenport led four Buckeyes to score in double figures with 18 points. Ashley Allen chipped in her second career double-double with 11 points and a game-high 11 rebounds, while sophomore Brandie Hoskins scored 14 points and dished out a game-high seven assists. Senior Caity Matter also scored double digits with 12 points.
In the semifinal, the Buckeyes held a lead on Minnesota for nearly the entire contest before the Golden Gophers closed the game with an 8-2 run to knot the score at 56 all at the end of regulation. In overtime, Minnesota gained a 5-point lead and held off a Buckeye rally to advance the the conference tournament finals with a 66-63 win. Hoskins led the Buckeyes with a career-best 23 points, while Davenport recorded her 12th double-double of the season with 12 points and 12 rebounds. Hoskins was named to the all-tournament team.
FOSTER, NCAA AND THE BUCKEYES
Jim Foster is no stranger to NCAA action, having advanced to the tournament 19 times in 27 years of coaching at St. Joseph’s (Pa.), Vanderbilt and Ohio State. In Foster’s first three seasons at Ohio State, the Buckeyes have earned No. 2 (2005), No. 4 (2003) and No. 6 (2004) seeds, made their 12th, 13th and 14th overall appearances in the NCAA tournament and has earned at least a second-round finish in all three seasons.
SCOUTING THE SCARLET KNIGHTS
Rutgers will be making its first “Sweet 16” appearance since 2000 after a 62-37 victory over Hartford in the first round and a 61-54 win over Temple in second-round action. The No. 3-seed Scarlet Knights secured their first-ever outright Big East regular season title March 1 with a 51-39 win at Villanova. Rutgers earned the No. 1 seed in the Big East Tournament, but fell in the semifinals to Connecticut, 67-51. The Scarlet Knights enter the regional semifinals with a 27-6 overall mark and were 14-2 during Big East competition.
Three Rutgers players average double-figure scoring, led by senior Cappie Pondexter with 13.9 points per game. Teammates Matee Ajavon and Michelle Campbell average 12.4 and 11.3 points per game, respectively. Campbell leads the squad with 5.8 rebounds per game and Essence Carson pulls down 5.6 caroms per contest.
C. Vivian Stringer is in her 10th season at the helm of the Scarlet Knights and holds a 202-110 (.647) record at Rutgers. She is in her 34th year as a head coach with a 722-245 (.747) overall record. Stringer is making her 18th appearance in the NCAA tournament.
BUCKEYES VS. SCARLET KNIGHTS
Ohio State and Rutgers met earlier this season, with the Buckeyes pulling out a 52-50 victory over the Scarlet Knights in the Big Ten/Big East Challenge in Columbus. Jessica Davenport led Ohio State with 22 points and seven rebounds in the contest. Cappie Pondexter tallied 20 points for Rutgers.
With the win in January, Ohio State leads the all-time series with Rutgers, 4-3. The two teams have met one previous time in the NCAA tournament, with the Buckeyes earning a 91-60 win over the Scarlet Knights in the second round of the 1993 tournament.
RECAPPING OHIO STATE’S 52-50 WIN OVER RUTGERS JAN. 16
Ohio State knocked off No. 4/7 Rutgers, 52-50, Jan. 16 at Value City Arena in game one of the 2005 Big Ten/BIG EAST Challenge.
The Buckeyes trailed by as many as seven points in the second half, but the squad shot 76.5 percent (13-of-17) in the final 20 minutes to chip away at the lead and capture a win over its highest-ranked opponent this season.
Rutgers’ Matee Ajavon hit two of her 20 points to tie the game at 45 with 2:35 left. Ohio State’s Brandie Hoskins hit a layup and the team forced a Rutgers’ shot clock violation to regain possession of the ball. Caity Matter drained her only 3-pointer of the game to give the Buckeyes a 50-45 advantage with 1:17 left.
Ashley Allen stole the ball from Ajavon with 56 ticks left on the clock. Hoskins went 1-for-2 from the free-throw line and Rutgers’ Essence Carson nailed a trey to keep the game within reach at 51-48 in favor of Ohio State. Stephanie Blanton sank one of her two attempts from the charity stripe with 10 seconds left to put the game out of reach at 52-50.
KNOCKING OFF NO. 4 – SECOND-HIGHEST OPPONENT IN VCA
Ranked No. 4 at the time, Rutgers was the second-highest opponent to play in Value City Arena when the Scarlet Knights and the Buckeyes played Jan. 16. Ohio State won 52-50 vs. Rutgers. Second-ranked Purdue is the highest team to ever play in VCA and the Boilermakers knocked off Ohio State 64-56 on Jan. 26, 1999. Purdue went on to win the national championship that year.
HIGHEST-RANKED WIN FOR FOSTER’S BUCKEYES
Ohio State beat then-No. 4/7 Rutgers 52-50 Jan. 16 in Value City Arena. The Scarlet Knights were the highest-ranked opponent the Buckeyes have beaten under head coach Jim Foster. Earlier this season, Ohio State beat then-No. 6/6 Michigan State 68-54 Jan. 6, which at the time was the highest-ranked win for the Buckeyes under Foster.
During the 2002-03 season, Ohio State defeated No. 10/11 Purdue 56-51 in Value City Arena. Last year, the Buckeyes defeated No. 10/10 Minnesota 75-57 at home.
BUCKEYES 11-4 VS. NCAA TOURNAMENT SQUADS IN 2004-05
Ohio State played 15 games against teams selected to play in the 2005 NCAA Tournament in the regular season.
The Buckeyes have recorded an 11-4 record against tournament-bound teams, including non-league wins over Bowling Green, Arizona, Oregon, Liberty and Rutgers. Ohio State dropped a 66-62 decision at Notre Dame.
In Big Ten action, Ohio State swept Purdue and split two games with Penn State, Michigan State and Minnesota.
ALLEN POSTS SECOND CAREER DOUBLE-DOUBLE
Ashley Allen scored 11 points and added a career-best and game-high 11 rebounds March 4 against Wisconsin for her second career double-double.
Allen’s first double-double came at home against Wayne State Nov. 26, 2002 with 11 points and 10 assists.
Allen is the second Buckeye this season to record a double-double. Center Jessica Davenport has 10 double-doubles this year.
BUCKEYES PLAY IN FIRST OVERTIME CONTEST IN FOSTER ERA
It took nearly three seasons, but a Jim Foster-led Ohio State team finally was extended to extra sessions in the Big Ten semifinal against Minnesota March 6. The Buckeyes and Goden Gophers were deadlocked at 56-56 at the end of regulation before UM pulled away for the 66-63 win.
The last overtime game played by an Ohio State team was Feb. 28, 2002 at Virginia and a double overtime contest verses Michigan State in the Big Ten Tournament. Ohio State defeated the Spartans 89-82.
BIG TEN CO-CHAMPS AND NO. 1 SEED
Ohio State earned a share of the 2005 Big Ten championship Feb. 27 after a 69-58 victory vs. Penn State. The Buckeyes, who shared the title with Michigan State, were the No. 1 seed in the 2005 Big Ten Tournament. Ohio State had never earned a No. 1 seed in the conference tournament until this season. The best seed prior to this year was a No. 3 seed in the 2004 tournament.
Ohio State’s share of the Big Ten title is its first since the 1992-93 Buckeyes finished as co-champions before making a run to the national title game.
Ohio State was picked to finish first in the coaches’ Big Ten preseason poll, in front of Michigan State and Minnesota. The media chose Purdue No. 1, the Buckeyes No. 2, and Penn State No. 3. Ohio State was the only squad named in both polls.
BIG TEN HONORS IN abundance
Jessica Davenport was named the 2005 Big Ten Player of the Year by both the coaches and media and head coach Jim Foster was the coaches’ selection for coach of the year, the Big Ten Conference announced March 1. Caity Matter was named to the coaches and media second teams and Brandie Hoskins garnered coach and media third-team honors.
Davenport was the only unanimous first-team selection on both the coaches and media’s first teams. A center from Columbus, Ohio, Davenport is the second Buckeye sophomore to win player of the year honors. Ohio State’s Tracey Hall, a two-time All-American, won the award in 1986 as a sophomore and again in 1987 as a junior. Lisa Cline (1989) and two-time All-American Katie Smith (1996) are the only other Big Ten players of the year in Buckeye history.
Foster is Ohio State’s first coach of the year since Tara VanDerveer was dubbed the league’s coach of the year in 1984 and 1985, the first two seasons the accolade was awarded. He led the Buckeyes to their first Big Ten co-championship since the 1992-93 Ohio State team was co-league champions. The Buckeyes’ share the title with Michigan State and have earned OSU’s first No. 1-seed in the Big Ten tournament. Ohio State’s perfect 17-0 record in Columbus is the best for any squad in the 40-year history of OSU basketball. This season, Foster’s team was ranked No. 2 in the Associated Press rankings for three-consecutive weeks. A No.2 ranking is the highest in program history.
Matter is a three-time second-team selection by the coaches and two-time second team pick by the media. Perhaps the most prolific shooter in Ohio State history, Matter sits atop every 3-point record (makes, attempts and percentage) in the Buckeye history book. The team’s second-leading scorer this season, Matter is the Big Ten’s top-shooter from 3-point territory and the league’s best free throw shooter.
Hoskins finished the season with double-figure point totals in six of her last seven games. She was named to the All-Big Ten tournament team after scoring 37 points in the two OSU contests, including a career-high 23 in the semifinal vs. Minnesota.
OHIO STATE DROPS FIRST CONTEST WHEN LEADING AT HALF
Ohio State held a 30-27 halftime lead on Minnesota in the Big Ten tournament semifinal March 6. The teams played to overtime, where the Golden Gophers emerged with a 66-63 victory, marking the first time in 29 contests the Buckeyes did not come away with a win when leading at halftime.
17-0 TOPS THEM ALL
Ohio State finished 17-0 this season in games played in Columbus. The mark is the best record at home for any OSU women’s basketball squad. The last time an Ohio State team was undefeated in Columbus was the 2002-03 season, when then-first year head coach Jim Foster’s OSU team defended its home court (14-0) for the first time since 1992-93. Nine Buckeye teams have gone undefeated in Columbus throughout program history.
The next best record at home is a 16-0 mark, which the 1992-93 Buckeyes set prior to making a run to the national championship game of the NCAA tournament. The 1992-93 squad’s 16-0 record included a second-round NCAA tournament win in Columbus.
The Buckeyes suffered their first defeat in the white uniforms March 6 in the 66-63, overtime loss to Minnesota in the Big Ten tournament. The Buckeyes are 18-1 when they don the pale jerseys.
ALL EYES ON THE BUCKEYES
The Ohio State vs. Penn State attendance of 17,525 is the largest crowd to see a women’s basketball game at Ohio State. The previous high crowd was 13,320 Feb. 6, 1988, when Ohio State defeated Iowa 58-54 in St. John Arena. The biggest crowd to watch a women’s basketball game in Value City Arena before the PSU game was 11,467 Feb. 14, 2001, when the Buckeyes fell 74-71 to Purdue in double overtime.
The crowd also set a Big Ten attendance record. Before the PSU-OSU game Feb. 27, the largest crowd to see a women’s Big Ten basketball game was 17,142 on Jan. 20, 2002, when Minnesota played at Wisconsin. The attendance also is ranked No. 3 in the country for crowds at a women’s college basketball game this season. Only Vanderbilt at Tennessee (18,643, 2/13/05) and Arkansas at Tennessee (18,633, 1/13/05) produced larger crowds.
BUCKEYE FANS ARE SUPER!
Ohio State was the recipient of the third annual Big Ten SuperFan Cup in recognition of its marketing and promotional campaign that helped boost attendance at women’s basketball games over the 2004-05 season. OSU increased its conference home game attendance by 81.9% this season as the Buckeyes welcomed an average of 7,259 fans to eight league contests compared to last year’s eight-game average of 3,991.
At halftime of the Big Ten semifinal against Minnesota, Ohio State was recognized for winning the 2005 SuperFan Cup. Miechelle Willis, a senior women’s administrator for Ohio State, accepted the trophy at center court.
DAVENPORT WINS FIFTH PLAYER OF THE WEEK ACCOLADE
Ohio State women’s basketball player Jessica Davenport earned her fifth Big Ten player of the week honors, the Big Ten Conference announced Feb. 28. Davenport averaged 25 points, 12 boards and 5.5 blocks in wins vs. Purdue and No. 22/24 Penn State. The Buckeyes captured a share of the Big Ten title for the first time since the 1992-93 season and improved to 17-0 in Columbus, which is the best home record in Buckeye history. Five player of the week honors in one season is the most for an Ohio State player.
Davenport shot 55 percent (17-of-31) from the field and 94 percent (16-of-17) from the charity stripe in the two games combined. A sophomore center from Columbus, Ohio, Davenport played in her fourth and fifth-consecutive 40-minute games against the Boilers and the Lady Lions.
At Purdue, the Buckeyes won 57-51 and captured the program’s first win in West Lafayette since a 71-68 OSU victory Dec. 31, 1994. Davenport scored a game-best 21 points, collected a game-high eight rebounds, blocked five shots and had two assists.
In the final regular-season game of the year, Davenport scored 29 points off an 8-of-18 night from the field vs. Penn State in Value City Arena (VCA). She made 13-of-13 free throws and grabbed a career-high 16 rebounds for her 10th season and 14th overall double-double. Davenport was the game’s leader with four assists and she swatted six shots, which brought her season total to 103. She is the first Ohio State women’s basketball player and only the third Big Ten player to tally over 100 blocks in a season.
Davenport’s personal-high 13 free throws made vs. Penn State are tied at No. 6 among single-game Buckeye record holders and set a Value City Arena record. Davenport previously held the record of 10 free throws made vs. Indiana, which she set last season in VCA. Her six blocked shots are a VCA record and her 16 rebounds are the most for any Buckeye player in VCA.
FANTASTIC FEATS
Head coach Jim Foster and the Buckeyes have racked up a list of milestones.
The Buckeyes’ 69-58 victory vs. Penn State Feb. 27 was the first for an Ohio State squad against the Lady Lions in Value City Arena. The last time the Buckeyes beat Penn State in Columbus was a 78-63 victory in St. John Arena Dec. 28, 1994.
Ohio State’s 57-51 win at Purdue Feb. 24 was the first victory for any Buckeye team since a 71-68 OSU win Dec. 31, 1994.
The Buckeyes’ 69-55 win at Illinois Jan. 31 was the first for a Buckeye squad in Champaign since an 88-72 Ohio State victory Jan. 28, 1995.
Ohio State snapped another streak when the team played at Indiana Jan. 20. The Buckeyes’ 52-30 victory in Bloomington was the first victory for any Buckeye team in Bloomington since Jan. 15, 1999 when OSU won 78-60.
Last season, the Buckeyes had another significant win when they beat Iowa 93-82 Feb. 5, 2004 in Iowa City. It was the first win for an Ohio State squad at Iowa since a 56-47 victory Feb. 3, 1985.
BUCKEYES FINE AT THE LINE
In the 69-58 win vs. Penn State, Ohio State shot .875 (21-of-24) from the charity stripe, compared to Penn State’s .667 (6-of-9). Free throw percentage is the only offensive category the Buckeyes do not lead (second only to Penn State) in the conference statistics. Penn State was averaging .779 heading into the game and the Buckeyes were averaging .768. The Lady Lions remain the No. 1 free-throw shooting team in the Big Ten with a .777 mark vs. Ohio State’s second-ranked .767 average.
SMASHING ARENA RECORDS
Jessica Davenport has broken a number of arena records this season.
She scored 35 points off a 15-of-19 night vs. Minnesota Feb. 17. Davenport’s 35 scores set a Value City Arena Record.
Davenport also broke Wisconsin’s Kohl Center record earlier this season with a career-best 36-point effort off a 15-of-21 night from the field Jan. 27. Her 36 scores and 15 field goals made are Kohl Center records and 21 attempts tied a Kohl Center opponent mark.
Against Penn State Feb. 27, Davenport’s personal-high 13 free throws are tied at No. 6 among single-game Buckeye record holders and set an Ohio State player record in Value City Arena, while tying the mark for most free throws made in VCA. Davenport previously held the record of 10 free throws made vs. Indiana, which she set last season in VCA. Davenport was 13-of-13 from the free-throw line, matching the school record set twice by Katie Smith, last vs. Purdue (12/31/95). Her six blocked shots vs. PSU are a VCA record and her 16 rebounds are the most for any Buckeye player in VCA.
FIRST SELLOUT IN VCA
The Ohio State-Penn State game was sold out, Ohio State Associate Athletics Director Richelle Simonson announced the Friday before the Penn State game. It marked the first women’s basketball sellout in Value City Arena, which became the home for women’s basketball in 1998-99. In 40 years of Buckeye women’s basketball, there have been four sellouts prior to the Penn State-Ohio State game. All four games were held at St. John Arena. The Penn State-Ohio State contest marked the first sellout since 1994.
In St. John Arena, 13,320 people were on hand for the Iowa game Feb. 26, 1988. Twice more against Iowa, St. John Arena sold out with a capacity crowd of 13,276. The first was March 7, 1993 and the second was Feb. 4, 1994. On March 21, 1993, a matchup vs. Rutgers was a sellout based on the number of tickets allotted (12,000).
WITH A FULL CROWD…
With a 69-58 win vs. Penn State Feb. 27, Ohio State has now won four of the five sellout home games in the 40-year history of the women’s basketball. The Buckeyes beat Iowa 58-54 Feb. 26, 1988. OSU beat Iowa again 72-60 March 7, 1993, but fell to the Hawkeyes 64-61 Feb. 4, 1994. The only other sellout was a 91-60 win vs. Rutgers March 21, 1993. The four previous sellouts took place in St. John Arena.
ALLEN TO RETURN NEXT YEAR
Ashley Allen, who is listed as a senior, was granted a redshirt and will be returning next season to the Buckeye roster.
TOP 25 BREAKDOWN
This season, Ohio State is 9-3 overall vs. Top 25 teams and 8-0 against ranked opponents at home.
Under head coach Jim Foster, Ohio State is 12-4 all-time and 7-0 this season against ranked opponents in Value City Arena (VCA), with a 1-0 record this year vs. Top 25 teams in St. John Arena.
The Buckeyes beat then-No. 22/24 Penn State 69-58 Feb. 27 and beat then-No. 14/14 Minnesota, 65-53, Feb. 17 in Columbus. The Jan. 16 matchup with then-No. 4/7 Rutgers was the highest-ranked opponent for Ohio State. The Buckeyes won, 52-50. The then-No. 6/6 Michigan State fell to the Buckeyes, 68-54, Jan. 6 in VCA. The Buckeyes also beat then-No. 20/20 Purdue 63-50 Jan. 2 in VCA, then-No. 20/23 UCLA 83-60 Dec. 21 in VCA, then-No. 24 Oregon 73-58 Dec. 18 in Eugene, Ore., and then-No. 21/24 Arizona 78-45 Nov. 17 in VCA.
The four OSU losses vs. a Top 25 squad this year included a 66-62 loss at then-No. 10/11 Notre Dame in the final game of the 2004 Sportsview.tv Preseason WNIT Nov. 20 in South Bend, Ind., and a 66-64 loss at then-No. 9/9 Michigan State Feb. 20 in East Lansing, Mich. At the Big Ten tournament, Ohio State suffered a 66-63 defeat at the hands of No. 15/15 Minnesota.
UNDER 20 IN THE FIRST
Ohio State held Penn State to a season-low 14 points in the first half Feb. 27. This season, the Buckeyes have held 10 opponents (Saint Joseph’s 13, Ohio 16, Nebraska 19, Penn 20, Purdue twice – 17 and 19, Indiana twice – 8 and 18, Michigan 16 and Penn State 14) to 20 points or less in the first half.
FIRST TRIPLE-DOUBLE IN HISTORY
Jessica Davenport tallied the first triple-double in Ohio State women’s basketball history against then-No. 9/9 Michigan State Feb. 20. Davenport scored 19 points, grabbed 13 rebounds and blocked 12 shots. Her 12 blocked shots ties a school record, set by June Brewer vs. Michigan State Feb. 7, 1976.
GET THAT OUTTA HERE
Jessica Davenport had 12 blocked shots vs. Michigan State Feb. 20 and moved into second place on Ohio State’s career leaders list. Davenport, who replaced former teammate LaToya Turner’s (2000-04) 165 career swats, currently has 193 blocked shots. Davenport needs 49 blocks to become the school’s career leader for blocked shots. Mary Sivak (1979-82) is No. 1 with 241 blocks.
Davenport is No. 1 in the Big Ten with 3.41 blocked shots per outing and currently has 109 blocks this year. She tallied 80 blocks last season and set the record for swatted shots by a rookie. Her 113 swats this season arethe most blocked shots in a single year by any Ohio State player. Davenport is only the third player in Big Ten history to swat more than 100 blocks in a single season.
MULTIPLE BLOCK CONTESTS
Jessica Davenport has swatted at least four shots in a single game 15 times this year. Her 12 denials at Michigan State Feb. 20 were a career-best and tied a school record, set by June Brewer Feb. 7, 1976 vs. Michigan State.
PASS THE PT AROUND
Eight of 13 Buckeyes are averaging more than 10.0 minutes per game and only five players – Jessica Davenport, Caity Matter, Brandie Hoskins, Kim Wilburn and Ashley Allen – are clocking more than 20.0 minutes per outing. The most PT for any Ohio State player is 31.0 minutes an outing (Davenport).
DOUBLE-DOUBLE IN LEAGUE GAMES
Jessica Davenport averaged a double-double in Big Ten regular season games with 21.7 points and 10.5 rebounds per game this year.
OVERALL UNDER FOSTER
Foster is 577-249 overall in 27 years of collegiate coaching and 73-24 in three seasons at Ohio State. In Columbus, Foster is 45-4 overall with a 36-3 mark in Value City Arena and a 9-1 record in St. John Arena.
Ohio State’s win over then-No. 21/24 Arizona Nov. 17 in Columbus gave head coach Jim Foster win No. 550 and the victory at Dayton Dec. 4 gave him win No. 50 while at Ohio State.
HOT HAND FOR HOSKINS
Sophomore guard Brandie Hoskins has scored double digits in 25-of-33 games played, including the last 22-of-26. In her first six contests, Hoskins averaged nine points per outing. She is currently averaging 13.2 points per game. In Big Ten games, she was second on the team with 13.3 points per outing.
WILBURN JOINS 400 CLUB
Against Indiana Feb. 6, junior Kim Wilburn dished two helpers, which upped her career assist total to 401. She became only the fifth player in Ohio State history to tally at least 400 assists. Wilburn’s current total of 428 is ranked No. 5 on the Buckeye all-time leaders list. She needs 17 to take over the No. 4 spot, held by Katie Smith’s 444 helpers.
50-plus = A WIN
Ohio State shot 53.1 percent (34-64) against Holy Cross in the first round of the NCAA tournament and 30-of-58 (51.3 ) against Maryland in round No. 2.
The nation’s best-shooting team, Ohio State has shot 50 percent or better 22 times this season, including nine of the last 12 outings, and is undefeated when shooting 50 percent of better from the field.
BUCKEYES TRAIL BY NO MORE THAN 12
The most Ohio State has trailed by this season is 12 points. The Buckeyes trailed by 12 in a loss at Penn State Dec. 30, in a victory at Iowa Feb. 13 and in a loss at Michigan State Feb. 20. In the Buckeyes’ first loss of the season at Notre Dame Nov. 20, Ohio State trailed by as many as nine.
30-30-30 FOR DAVENPORT
Jessica Davenport’s 35 points vs. Minnesota Feb. 17 marked her third 30-point game this season and the third of her career. Davenport tallied 36 at Wisconsin Jan. 27 and 32 at Illinois Jan. 30.
10-3 ON ROAD THE BEST UNDER FOSTER
Ohio State is 10-3 on the road this season. The Buckeyes’ 10-3 record away from Columbus is the best under head coach Jim Foster, who is in his third season at OSU.
SCORING BURDEN SHARED
Jessica Davenport, Caity Matter and Brandie Hoskins are leading the team with 19.4, 13.4 and 13.2 points per game, respectively. Davenport has scored double figures in 33-of-34 games this season, Matter has scored double digits in 25-of-34 games and Hoskins has tallied double digits in 25-of-33 games played.
DAVENPORT BIG ON THE BOARDS
Jessica Davenport is leading her team and ranked No. 2 in the Big Ten with 9.1 rebounds per outing. In the Big Ten season, the sophomore center averaged 10.5 rebounds per game and was No. 2 among league leaders.
MATTER SITTING PRETTY ON 3 LISTS
Senior Caity Matter is at the top of every 3-point career list in the Ohio State record book.
Matter went 2-for-7 vs. Liberty Jan. 9. Matter’s seven attempts gave the senior guard from Bluffton, Ohio, the record for career attempts. She is now at 646 total attempts. Katie Smith previously held the No. 1 spot with 564 attempts from 1993-96.
Matter also broke Smith’s record earlier this season for career treys made and currently has 268 career 3-pointers drained. Smith made 218 3-pointers during her career and held the No. 1 spot for eight years. Matter sank one 3-pointer at then-No. 24 Oregon Dec. 18 and tied the record for career treys made by an Ohio State player. Three days later vs. then-No. 20/23 UCLA Dec. 21, Matter hit her 219th career 3-point field goal at 14:02 to break the school record for treys in a career. Matter is only the third Buckeye to make at least 200 career 3-pointers. Marcie Albert is ranked No. 3 with 203 treys.
Matter is currently No. 1 with a .412 (268-of-651) career 3-point percentage.
RPI RATINGS
In the latest WBCA/Summerville RPI rankings, Ohio State is No. 9 and the Big Ten Conference is No. 5. According to Collegerpi.com, the Buckeyes are No. 9, while the Big Ten sits at No. 4 on the conference list.
DAVENPORT PLAYER OF THE MONTH
Ohio State women’s basketball player Jessica Davenport was named the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) National Player of the Month for January, the WBCA announced Feb. 8.
Davenport averaged 19.8 points and 8.7 rebounds per game as the No. 2/3 Buckeyes amassed a 10-0 record in January. Four of the 10 Buckeye victories were vs. Top 25 teams, including wins vs. then-No. 6/6 Michigan State and vs. then-No. 4/7 Rutgers. The Buckeyes beat teams by an average of 16.2 points per game in January.
Davenport shot 57.9 percent (77-of-133) from the field, made her first-career 3-pointer and averaged 2.1 blocked shots, 1.6 assists and 1.0 steals per game. Davenport tallied three double-doubles during the month, and had back-to-back 30-point games with 36 points at Wisconsin Jan. 27 and 32 points at Illinois Jan. 30.
The Big Ten’s player of the week three times in January, Davenport averaged 30.4 minutes per game and shot 76.8 percent (43-of-56) from the free-throw line.
FIRST “W” WHEN TRAILING AFTER 20
Ohio State trailed 21-16 at halftime vs. Rutgers Jan. 16 and went on to win, 52-50. It was the first victory for a Buckeye team when the team trailed after the first 20 minutes. The Buckeyes are 1-2 when down at the midway mark.
20 WINS THE NORM FOR FOSTER
Ohio State’s 86-67 win at Wisconsin Jan. 27 was victory No. 20 for the 2004-05 Buckeyes. Ohio State, which now is 29-4, has won at least 20 games under head coach Jim Foster in his first three seasons in Columbus. As a program, the Buckeyes have notched 20-win seasons 17 times, including four of the last five years.
In Foster’s 27 years as a collegiate coach, his teams have won 20 or more games 18 times, including the last seven consecutive seasons – three at Ohio State and four at Vanderbilt.
70 IN THE SECOND
Against Rutgers Jan. 16, Ohio State shot .765 percent (13-of-17) from the field in the second half. The Buckeyes have shot 70 percent or better in the second 20 minutes in three games this season. In the first half vs. the Scarlet Knights, the Buckeyes’ 16 points and .261 (6-of-23) field goal percentage in the first stanza were season-low marks for OSU.
NEW YEAR GOOD TO THE BUCKEYES
The Buckeyes were 10-0 in January. A 10-0 record in the first month of the year is the best for a Jim Foster-coached Buckeye squad.
Foster has only had one other undefeated January in his 27-year career. Foster’s 1989-90 Saint Joseph’s squad was a perfect 11-0 in January. The Hawks won a game Dec. 29 and added two-consecutive victories in February that season to complete a 14-run win streak.
The last time a Buckeye squad was undefeated in January was during the 1986-87 season when the Buckeyes went 9-0 in the midst of a 15-game win streak.
BACK-TO-BACK 30’S
Davenport’s back-to-back 30-point games at Illinois Jan. 27 and Wisconsin Jan. 30 marked the third such performance for any Buckeye player. The last person to tally consecutive 30-point games was Lisa Cline, who scored 35 and 32 points in victories vs. Marshall and at Colorado in December of 1988. Frani Washington, Ohio State’s first All-American, netted 30 points in back-to-back wins at Eastern Kentucky and vs. Dayton in February of 1979.
A native of Columbus, Ohio, Davenport became the first Big Ten player to record back-to-back 30-point games since Minnesota’s Lindsay Whalen scored 31 at Virginia Dec. 29, 2003 and 32 at home vs. Michigan Jan. 1, 2004. Davenport is also the first to record 30 points in consecutive Big Ten games since Penn State’s Kelly Mazzante scored 33 vs. Iowa Jan. 9, 2003 and 31 at Northwestern Jan. 12, 2003.
MATTER SETS SINGLE GAME RECORD … AGAIN
Senior shooting guard Caity Matter sank eight 3-pointers at Michigan Jan. 11. The eight treys tied the Ohio State single-game record she set Dec. 1, 2003 vs. IUPUI. Matter was 8-of-11 from 3-point land, 10-of-13 from the floor and tied her career-high mark of 28 points vs. the Wolverines.
+70 A RECORD
The Buckeyes beat Ohio, 107-37, Dec. 1 in Athens, Ohio. Ohio State’s 70-point win tied the school record for the largest margin of victory. Ohio State beat Akron 105-35 on Feb. 22, 1977. The win was the Bobcats’ worst lost in program history. Ohio’s previous worst lost was 52 points at Iowa in 1991.
The previous biggest margin of victory for a Buckeye team under head coach Jim Foster was a 48-point win. Foster’s Ohio State teams had beaten two squads by 48 points: 96-48 vs. IUPUI Dec. 1, 2003 in Value City Arena and 89-41 vs. Bowling Green Nov. 12 in Value City Arena.
107 THE HIGHEST UNDER FOSTER
Ohio State’s 107 points vs. Ohio Dec. 1 was the highest points total this season and the most for any Buckeye team coached by Jim Foster. The Buckeyes’ previous season-high was 89 points against Bowling Green (Nov. 12) in the season opener. Ohio State’s 46 points in the first 20 minutes of play was the most in the first half this year.
The last time a Buckeye team scored at least 100 points was vs. Wayne State Nov. 26, 2002 in Foster’s second-ever game at the helm of the Ohio State program.
The most points ever scored by a Buckeye team was a 119-point performance vs. Idaho State Dec. 11, 1994. Ohio State won, 119-63.
SEVEN REACH DOUBLE FIGURES
The Buckeyes had seven players reach double figures in scoring vs. Ohio Dec. 1. Tamarah Riley had 18, Caity Matter scored 14 points, Stephanie Blanton, Jessica Davenport, Beth Howe and Michelle Muñoz all netted 12 and Candace Dark tallied 11 scores. Seven players in double digits is the most this season. Ohio State had five players reach double figures against St. Joseph’s (Nov. 14).
MATTER A CLASS ACT
Ohio State women’s basketball player Caity Matter was named a finalist for the 2004-05 Bayer Advantage Senior CLASS Award by the organizing committee of the award. The Senior CLASS Award is an acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School. The award is given to the outstanding male and female senior NCAA Division I basketball player annually and originated from the award’s honorary chairman, CBS sportscaster Dick Enberg.
A national media committee will select 10 finalists for the award in February of 2005. In March, a nationwide fan ballot will be paired with results from a vote of coaches and media to determine the winners. The winner will be announced by Enberg during the CBS telecast of the 2005 NCAA Men’s Final Four.
Courtney Coleman, a former Ohio State regional Kodak/WBCA All-American honorable mention pick and four-year Buckeye letterwinner, was named a second team Senior CLASS Award winner in 2003.
BUCKEYE CLASSIC ALL-TOURNEY TEAM MEMBERS
Jessica Davenport and Caity Matter were named to the 2004 Buckeye Classic All-Tournament Team Nov. 28. Davenport, the most valuable player, was 16-of-27 from the field and tallied a total of 37 points, 12 rebounds, six assists, four steals, five blocked shots and only two turnovers. Matter was 7-of-13 form the field, scored 22 points and had seven assists, six rebounds and four steals. Davenport and Matter also were named to the Sportsview.tv 2004 Preseason WNIT All-Tournament Team.
PRESEASON WNIT WRAP-UP
Ohio State beat Bowling Green, 89-41, Nov. 12 and blew by Saint Joseph’s, 76-29, Nov. 14 in rounds one and two of the 2004 Sportsview.tv Preseason WNIT. In the semifinals vs. No. 21/24 Arizona, the Buckeyes won, 78-45, and earned the program’s first trip to the finals of the preseason WNIT. The first three games were in Columbus, Ohio (with round one and the semifinal game being held at Value City Arena and round two taking place in St. John Arena), but the Buckeyes had to travel to South Bend, Ind., to face then-No. 10/11 Notre Dame in the final game Nov. 20.
Notre Dame tallied victories at home over Illinois State (92-73), Nebraska (73-57) and No. 6/6 Duke (76-65) on its path to the final game of the preseason WNIT event, fought for the title in a close game vs. the Buckeyes. In a back-and-forth battle with seven lead changes and nine ties, Ohio State led, 62-54, with 5:18 to play, but Notre Dame went on a 12-0 run to close the final five minutes of the game and earn the championship.
It was the second preseason WNIT run for Ohio State. The Buckeyes were also in the 1995 event and faced Pittsburgh Nov. 15, 1995. The Buckeyes beat Pitt, 85-50. In the second round of that year’s preseason WNIT, the Buckeyes beat Maine, 93-64, before falling to Arkansas, 86-80. Then-senior Katie Smith, who is currently a student assistant for the Buckeyes, was named to the 1995 Preseason WNIT All-Tournament team.
PRESEASON WNIT ALL-TOURNEY SELECTIONS
Ohio State’s Jessica Davenport and Caity Matter were named to the Sportsview.tv 2004 Preseason WNIT All-Tournament Team. For the tournament, Davenport averaged 17.8 points, 6.3 boards and 2.5 rebounds per game, while shooting .581 from the field (25-of-43) and making all 21 free throws she attempted. Matter averaged 14.3 points, 3.8 assists and shot .467 (21-of-45) from the field and 7-for-7 from the charity stripe in the four games.
BUCKEYES BREAK WNIT 3-pt RECORDS
The Buckeyes have set two preseason WNIT team records: 3-pointers in a game and 3-pointers in a tournament.
Ohio State made 13 3-pointers (of 20 attempted) vs. Bowling Green Nov. 12. The previous mark was held by Connecticut, who drained 12 treys vs. Fairfield Nov. 9, 2001. Ohio State was .650 from beyond the arc vs. the Falcons, due primarily to Ashley Allen, who was 5-of-6 from downtown, Caity Matter, who hit 2-of-4, and Michelle Muñoz, who hit both 3-pointers attempted.
The Buckeyes’ 27 3-pointers accumulated during the four preseason WNIT contests beat the previous mark of 23 treys in a tournament set by the University of Arkansas in 1995.
THE EARLY BIRD GETS THE WORM
The Nov. 12 game vs. BGSU was the earliest start in Buckeye history since dates for games were recorded beginning in the 1974-75 season. The next earliest start was a Nov. 15, 1995 game in the preseason WNIT vs. Pittsburgh.
