No. 5 Buckeyes Move on to Big Ten Final

Ohio State center Jessica Davenport, right, grabs a rebound from Penn State's Amanda Brown during the first half of a semifinal women's college basketball game in the Big Ten Tournament in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 4, 2007. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings) (Darron Cummings - AP)

INDIANAPOLIS -- Jessica Davenport showed why she's a three-time Big Ten player of the year. When she posts up, she's almost unstoppable.

The powerful 6-foot-5 Davenport scored a season-high 32 points, including all seven Ohio State points in overtime, to help the No. 5 Buckeyes to a 73-71 victory over fifth-seeded Penn State in the Big Ten tournament semifinals.

"I was looking for her every time down the floor," point guard Maria Moeller said. "She was having success, so we just kept going to her."

Davenport kept delivering the key shots _ and anything else the Buckeyes (28-2) needed.

She was 12-of-18 from the field, 8-of-12 from the line, grabbed 10 rebounds, had five assists and although Davenport finished with no blocks, she repeatedly changed the Nittany Lions' shots.

Her only real miscue came in the closing seconds of regulation when Davenport's potentially winning 7-footer bounced off the front of the rim. She also missed a second free throw with 6.3 seconds left in overtime that gave Penn State a chance to tie it.

Ohio State survived when Tyra Grant's 15-foot baseline jumper was shot after the buzzer _ with Penn State still having a timeout.

"We had a play designed," said Brianne O'Rourke who passed the ball to Grant. "I just passed it up, thinking she had a better shot."

Star Allen added 12 points and six rebounds for the Buckeyes, and injured guard Marscilla Packer gave Ohio State an inspirational lift, finishing with nine points in a game she wasn't even supposed to play after spraining her left ankle in Friday's quarterfinal victory. On Saturday, Packer was in a walking boot and ruled out of the game.

"The medical people were totally convinced she (Packer) wasn't going to play today," coach Jim Foster said. "As the treatments progressed, they said 'Maybe if you need her in a situation or two, you might have her.' They kept working, and as they were doing their probing tests before the game, the doctor said 'I think she can go.' "

For the Buckeyes, the three-time Big 10 regular season champions and the conference's defending tournament champs, it was a scare they didn't need as they fight for a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament.

They still have one more chance to impress the selection committee Monday night when they face No. 15 Purdue (27-5) in the championship game. Ohio State has won 21 of 22 overall and 34 of 35 against conference foes, including a 64-55 victory at Purdue in January.