ATH: Lavender Named Ohio State Female Athlete of the Year – Ohio State Buckeyes
6/15/2009 12:00:00 AM | General
COLUMBUS, Ohio Jantel Lavender, a sophomore center on the Buckeye women’s basketball team, has been named the 2008-09 Ohio State Female Athlete of the Year, the department of athletics announced Monday. Lavender’s honor marks the ninth time a women’s basketball player has earned the accolade and the third time in the last four years.
In 2008-09 Lavender enjoyed a record-breaking season on her way to earning State Farm/WBCA Coaches and USBWA All-America honors, the fourth WBCA All-American at Ohio State in the past five years. She led the Buckeyes to a 29-6 record (tying for the third-most wins in Division I), a record-tying fifth straight Big Ten regular season championship and a berth in the NCAA Sweet 16.
The Cleveland, Ohio, native was the Big Ten Player of the Year for a second-consecutive season, becoming the sixth player in Big Ten women’s basketball history to earn the award in back-to-back seasons. Lavender became only the second player in conference history to complete the statistical triple crown, leading the conference in points (20.0), rebounds (9.9) and a shooting percentage (.549) in conference games while averaging 20.8 points and 10.7 rebounds with 24 double-doubles and a .541 shooting percentage in all games played.
The only Division I player to rank in the Top 20 in scoring, rebounding and field goal percentage, Lavender set a Big Ten single-season record with 374 rebounds and was named the 2009 Big Ten Tournament Most Outstanding Player, setting a single tournament record with 41 rebounds in the three wins over Illinois, Iowa and Purdue as the Buckeyes took home the tournament trophy. Lavender scored in double-figures each game and has done so in all 66 career contests, the longest active streak in Division I. Lavender led the Buckeyes in scoring in 28 of 35 games and led the Big Ten with 21 games of 20 or more points.
Lavender moves on to the ballot for the Suzy Favor Big Ten Female Athlete of the Year award. The 2008-09 Ohio State Male Athlete of the Year will be announced Tuesday.
Ohio State Female Athletes of the Year
Year Women Sport
1983 Cathy Kratzert Golf
1984 Sarah Josephson Synchronized Swimming
1985 Yvette Angel Basketball
1986 Tracey Hall Basketball
1987 Karen LaFace Diving
1988 Bridgette Tate Track/Field
1989 Nikita Lowry Basketball
1990 Susan Gottlieb Swimming
1991 Holly O’Leary Volleyball
1992 Leisa Wissler Volleyball
1993 Audrey Burcy Basketball
1994 Katie Smith Basketball
1995 # Laura Davis Volleyball
1996 Katie Smith Basketball
1997 Amy Langhals Golf
1998 Vanessa Wouters Volleyball
1999 Dominque Calloway Track/Field
2000 Donica Merriman Track/Field
2001 Donica Merriman Track/Field
2002 Anna Smith Softball
2003 Stacey Gordon Volleyball
2004 Allison Hanna Golf
2005 Stacey Gordon Volleyball
2006 Jessica Davenport Basketball
2007 # Jessica Davenport Basketball
2008 Teresa Meyer Pistol
2009 Jantel Lavender Basketball
# Recipient of the Big Ten Suzy Favor Award
