Jan. 12, 2006
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – Jessica Davenport scored a season-high 34 points, grabbed 16 rebounds and had six assists to lead No. 8 Ohio State past Iowa 72-62 Thursday night, the Buckeyes’ sixth win in seven games.
Debbie Merrill added 15 points for Ohio State (12-2, 3-1 Big Ten), which never trailed as the Buckeyes’ post players dominated play. Led by Davenport’s seventh double-double of the season, Ohio State outrebounded Iowa 39-30 and outscored the Hawkeyes 52-30 in the paint.
Crystal Smith led the Hawkeyes (10-6, 3-2) with 26 points and Megan Skouby added 11.
Iowa trailed by as many as 16 points before staging a rally midway through the second half. The Hawkeyes went on a 21-11 run and got within 55-49 on a 3-pointer by Smith with 11:22 left.
The teams traded baskets for the next 5 minutes before Davenport converted a three-point play with 6:00 left to push Ohio State’s lead to 66-55.
Iowa – which upset No. 9 Michigan State on Monday – never got closer than 68-59 after that.
Davenport scored the Buckeyes’ last nine points.
Davenport broke the game open with 11 straight points during a 15-1 run midway through the first half that gave the Buckeyes a 39-21 lead. Iowa was unable to stop Davenport from establishing position inside, and she took advantage with five baskets from inside 10 feet during a 3:33 span.
Iowa responded with a 7-0 run, but Marscilla Parker buried a 3-pointer at the buzzer to put Ohio State up 42-28 at halftime.
The Buckeyes outscored the Hawkeyes 30-12 in the paint in the first half and shot 58 percent from the field.