WOMEN'S BASKETBALL OSU wallops No. 24 Arizona

The Buckeyes held the Wildcats to 34 percent shooting from the field.
COLUMBUS (AP) -- Caity Matter exploited Arizona's defense by hitting four 3-pointers and scored 20 points to lead No. 10 Ohio State to a 78-45 victory in the semifinals of the Women's NIT on Wednesday night.
The Buckeyes (3-0) advance to play at No. 11 Notre Dame on Saturday night in the championship game. The Fighting Irish beat No. 6 Duke 76-65 in the other semifinal on Wednesday night.
Arizona, ranked 24th, came in shooting 47 percent from the field and averaging 77.5 points but managed just 34 percent against the Buckeyes' pressure defense.
Matter hit 7-of-12 shots from the field and both of her free throws and added four assists and four rebounds. Brandie Hoskins added 14 points and six assists, Jessica Davenport had 15 points and Michelle Munoz, daughter of Pro Football Hall of Famer Anthony Munoz, scored 10 for the Buckeyes.
Shawntinice Polk led the Wildcats (2-1) with 16 points and Dee Dee Wheeler hit double figures for the 36th consecutive game with 13 points.
Action
The game figured to be a showdown between Polk, a 6-foot-5 junior, and Davenport, a 6-4 sophomore.
With both defenses sagging inside to lock up the centers, Matter opened things up with her outside shooting and triggered the quicker Buckeyes' fastbreak.
Ohio State led 17-15 midway through the first half before Hoskins scored six points in a 10-2 run. After Munoz drove for a layup, Hoskins scored on a spinning move in the lane, then followed her own miss on a breakaway and hit another bucket. Stephanie Blanton closed the spurt with two free throws.
Ahead 36-23 after closing the first half on a 19-8 run, the Buckeyes picked up where they left off. Munoz opened the half with a 3 and Matter later added baskets behind the arc on consecutive possessions from almost the same spot to push the lead to 49-25.
The Wildcats never got closer than 22 points, with Ohio State leading by as many as 39. Arizona had 23 turnovers, resulting in 32 points for the Buckeyes.