Reigning Big Ten Player-of-the-Year Jantel Lavender led all players with 29 points and 11 rebounds to lead Ohio State to a 68-35 women’s basketball win over Delaware State at Value City Arena on Tuesday.
The Buckeyes won for the fifth time in the last six games to improve to 8-2 on the season. The Lady Hornets have dropped six of their last seven to fall to 2-6.
Lavender was 12-for-13 from the field and 5-for-5 at the free throw line. Star Allen and Maria Moeller added nine points each for the Buckeyes.
Cortney Crockett was the only Delaware State player in double figures with 10 points. Crockett has scored 24 points in the last two games after tallying just seven in the first six contests. Keyhana Wakefield had nine points and three assists for the Lady Hornets.
Lavender made her presence felt early in the contest, scoring 15 of Ohio State’s first 21 points.
Delaware State led 3-2 before the Buckeyes made their first run. Ohio State scored the next 11 points, and opened up a 13-3 lead on a free throw by Allen with 11:24 left in the fist half.
The Buckeyes led 21-10 before another spurt. Cherise Daniel capped off another 11-0 Ohio State run with a lay up to give the Buckeyes a 32-10 lead with 3:18 remaining in the half.
The Lady Hornets scored six of the last eight points in the half to pull to within 34-16 at intermission.
Delaware State used a 6-0 run midway through the second half to cut Ohio State’s lead to 15.
Wakefield capped off the run with a steal and lay up to pull the Lady Hornets to within 48-33 with 10:42 left to play.
The Buckeyes answered with a 7-0 run, and opened up a 55-33 lead on a jumper by Lavender with 8:17 remaining in the game.
The Lady Hornets could get no closer than 20 points the rest of the way.
Delaware State was 14-for-51 from the field (27.5%), including 2-of-10 from three-point territory. Ohio State shot 61% for the game, hitting 25-of-41 shots from the floor. The Buckeyes were 6-of-10 from beyond the arc.
Ohio State won the rebound battle 37-21, although the Lady Hornets forced the Buckeyes into 20 turnovers. DSU turned the ball over 18 times.
Delaware State will stay in Big Ten country for their next contest. The Lady Hornets will visit Michigan State on Thursday (Dec. 18). Game time is 7 p.m.