March 7, 2008
GAME 6:
The first game of the second session features the No. 1 seed Ohio State Buckeyes (22-7, 13-5 Big Ten) against the No. 9 seed Illinois Fighting Illini (17-13, 8-10).
6:01 p.m. ET: We are underway in the night session!
1st, 15:31, TIMEOUT (MEDIA): Ohio State 6, Illinois 5
Ohio State freshman Jantel Lavender, the conference's Freshman and co-Player of the Year, is off to a strong start. She has 4 points and 3 rebounds in the first four minutes of the game.
1st, 11:22, TIMEOUT (MEDIA): Ohio State 12, Illinois 10
Illinois' Lori Bjork has connected on 2-of-3 shots from the perimeter to pull the Illini within two. OSU is shooting 50 percent from the field; Illinois is at 30 percent.
1st, 7:58, TIMEOUT (MEDIA): Ohio State 16, Illinois 16
IT TOOK 13 YEARS TO MEET AGAIN: Illinois and Ohio State have met just once before in the Big Ten Tournament and that was in the first annual event i 1995. The seventh-seeded Buckeyes defeated No. 10 Illinois, 87-73, that year.
1st, 1:40, TIMEOUT (MEDIA): Illinois 26, Ohio State 24
Rebecca Harris has 9 points for Illinois, while Jenna Smith has 7 points and 3 boards. Bjork follows with 6 points. Leading the way for the Buckeyes is Lavender with 8 points and 5 rebounds. Tamarah Riley has 6 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists.
HALFTIME: Ohio State 28, Illinois 27
We are at halftime and we certainly got there with some excitement. Illinois had a chance to retain the lead until OSU took the ball away around the Illini' free-throw line. With three seconds remaining and the clock running, Alison Jackson took an outlet pass to the corner of the court and hit a buzzer-beater 3-pointer that, oh by the way, banked in! After monitor review by the officials, the shot was confirmed and the Buckeyes regained the lead at half, 28-27.
2nd, 15:23, TIMEOUT (MEDIA): Illinois 37, Ohio State 33
OSU's Lavender is nearing yet another double-double on the season. She has 11 points and 9 rebounds. Illinois' Rebecca Harris leads all scorers with a game-high 15 points.
2nd, 11:30, TIMEOUT (MEDIA): Illinois 44, Ohio State 41
Both teams are shooting more than 45 percent from the floor and nearly 30 percent from the perimeter. Remarkably, the two teams have combined for only 10 foul shots on the day. Illinois is 4-of-6 from the line, while Ohio State is just 2-of-4.
2nd, 8:53, TIMEOUT (OSU): Illinois 49, Ohio State 41
2nd, 7:48, TIMEOUT (MEDIA): Illinois 51, Ohio State 41
Illinois has opened the game with its biggest lead of the contest. The Fighting Illini spirit is contagious, as we have since seen a strong Minnesota contingent begin cheering for Illinois. The Gopher fans are even taking part in the traditional I-L-L, I-N-I chant. We've seen it all!
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: This is the sixth meeting between the No. 1 and No. 9 seeds at the Big Ten Women's Tournament. The top seed has won all five of the previous occasions.
HERE'S ONE MORE: When looking at tournament seeds, an Illinois win would mark the event's greatest upset. Currently, No. 8 Indiana's 61-54 win over No. 1 Purdue in 1997 quarterfinal action holds the record.
2nd, 3:33, TIMEOUT (ILL): Illinois 58, Ohio State 54
2nd, 3:06, TIMEOUT (MEDIA): Illinois 60, Ohio State 54
Here come the Buckeyes. Marscilla Packer has 18 points for OSU, followed by Lavender with 14 points and 11 rebounds -- her 14th of the season. Illinois' Harris leads all scorers with 20 points. Jenna Smith has 13 and Bjork has 12.
2nd, 1:04, TIMEOUT (ILL): Illinois 60, Ohio State 57
2nd, 0:21.5, TIMEOUT (OSU): Illinois 60, Ohio State 57
2nd, 0:21.5, TIMEOUT (OSU): Illinois 60, Ohio State 57
2nd, 0:10.9: Illinois foul; Tamarah Riley at line. Misses first, makes second.
2nd, 0:09.0: OSU foul. Bjork at line. Makes first, Makes second.
FINAL: Illinois 64, Ohio State 58
This is the biggest upset in tournament history. The No. 9 seed is now 1-5 all-time in the event's history against the top seed. Illinois' Rebecca Harris led all scorers with 22 points. Bjork had 14 points and Smith added 13. OSU's Marscilla Packer netted 19 in the loss. Lavender at 14 points and 12 rebounds, while Riley had 13 points and 12 boards.
