Buckeyes go inside, power past Indiana

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Senior Jessica Davenport scored 30 points to lead OSU to the 72-60 victory.

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Ohio State refused to crack.

Already playing without all-conference guard Brandie Hoskins, and losing their other starting guard, Marscilla Packer, early in the second half Friday night, the No. 5 Buckeyes survived by going inside.

Three-time conference player of the year Jessica Davenport scored 30 points, and forward Star Allen added 15 points and 13 rebounds to help the Buckeyes pull away from ninth-seeded Indiana 72-60 in the Big Ten tournament quarterfinals.

"We're an inside-outside basketball team," Ohio State coach Jim Foster said. "When you have a pretty good center, it seems like a pretty good idea to throw the ball inside."

After Packer left the court for the second time with what appeared to be a left ankle injury, the Buckeyes had no choice; they had to go inside.

Packer questionable

Ohio State (27-2) isn't sure yet whether Packer will play in Sunday night's semifinal against fifth-seeded Penn State (15-15), a 61-49 winner over Illinois.

She initially was hurt on the first possession of the game after getting caught in a heap of players scrambling for a loose ball. Packer crumpled to the ground, clutching at the ankle, then limped into the locker room before eventually returning.

Less than four minutes into the second half, Packer, pulled up lame again while running. This time, she needed two trainers to help her off the court and did not return.

Foster said he was uncertain how severe Packer's injury was.

If the injury is serious, it could create another impediment to the Buckeyes' national title hopes. Hoskins has already been lost for the season because of a torn Achilles' tendon.

"We don't know yet," Foster said hours after it was announced he's agreed to a contract extension that will keep him at Ohio State through 2014-15.

The Hoosiers (18-13) were led by Kim Roberson with 15 points and Sarah McKay with 14 in losing their seventh straight to Ohio State.

Saturday, March 3, 2007