Jan. 12, 2009
Box Score |
Game Action 
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - The Fighting Illini had a tough task Monday night as the 16th-ranked and four-time defending Big Ten champion Ohio State Buckeyes came into Assembly Hall. The Orange and Blue hung tough for a half, trailing by just seven at the break, but the Buckeyes pulled away in the second half for a 67-35 victory.
The game featured two of the premier post players in the league in All-Americans Jenna Smith of Illinois, and Jantel Lavender of Ohio State. Smith held her own against the preseason Big Ten Player of the Year, finishing with14 points and seven boards, while Lavender also had 14 points and pulled down 14 rebounds. However, it was another post, Ohio State's Star Allen, who made the difference inside as the 5-11 power forward hit 6-of-9 from the field for 13 points, while grabbing 12 rebounds.
The Illini jumped out to a 12-7 lead behind six early points from Smith, but the Buckeyes took control with a 15-2 run midway through the first half to open up a 22-14 lead. Illinois pulled back within four at 24-20, but OSU scored the last three points of the half to take a 27-20 lead into the locker room. The Orange and Blue forced 12 first-half Buckeye turnovers, led by Simpson's four steals, but shot just 28.6 percent from the field in the first 20 minutes of play.
Illinois (4-13, 0-6) scored the first two points of the second half on a pair of free throws by Smith to pull within five at 27-22, but that would be as close as the Illini would get as Ohio State (14-2, 5-0) went on a 10-0 run to break the game open and then pulled away down the stretch, leading by as many as 34 points in the final minutes.
The Buckeyes shot 64.0 percent in the second half and 48.2 percent for the game, while Illini struggled to 21.4 percent second half shooting and were just 25.0 percent for the game. From three-point land, OSU hit 5-of-13 for 38.5 percent, while the Illini were 0-of-8 from behind the arc.
Junior forward Lacey Simpson had another solid all-around game for the Orange and Blue. The Big Ten steals leader had six thefts in the game and also chipped in 12 points, six rebounds, three assists and two blocks. The six steals up her career total to 214, which moves her past Tauja Catchings (211) and into fifth on the UI all-time list. Simpson also surpassed the 100-block milestone and currently stands sixth on the Illinois career list with 101.
Smith added two blocks and two steals to her game-high tying 14 points. She has now scored in double figures in 25 straight games, a streak that ranks 10th in the nation, and is just three blocks shy of moving into second on the UI career blocked shots list with 132. Her seven rebounds give her 689-career boards, which moves her past Danyel Crutcher (686) and into eighth on the Illinois career list.
Ohio State held a 46-27 rebounding advantage and outscored the Illini 28-12 in the paint and 22-3 off the bench. Ohio State guard Brittany Johnson, a native of Olney, Ill., tied her career-high with four three-pointers and had a game-high tying 14 points for the Buckeyes, joining Lavender (14 points), Allen (13 points) and Ashlee Trebilcock (11 points) in double figures. Freshman point guard Samantha Prahalis had a game-high nine assists for OSU.
The Fighting Illini remain at home to host Iowa at Assembly Hall on Thursday night at 7 p.m. before hitting the road for a game at Wisconsin on Sunday, Jan. 18.
