WOMEN'S HOOPS Ohio St. cruises to victory

Jessica Davenport and Brandie Hoskins are a 1-2 punch for the Buckeyes.
COLUMBUS (AP) -- Ohio State star Jessica Davenport may not have to carry the load this season.
Davenport had 24 points and 14 rebounds, and Brandie Hoskins added career highs of 25 points and 10 assists to lead No. 4 Ohio State over Eastern Kentucky 85-38 on Monday night in the season opener for both teams.
Debbie Merrill, a Cincinnati transfer who was required to sit out last season, had 11 points in her Ohio State debut.
Hoskins and Merrill should prevent opposing defenses from focusing on the 6-foot-4 Davenport, a preseason first-team All-American who dominates the low post. The trio made 26 of 35 shots against Eastern Kentucky.
"Most very good basketball teams have three players who can score the ball," Buckeyes coach Jim Foster said.
Davenport shot well
Davenport made 11 of 14 shots, with nearly all coming close to the basket against the undersized Colonels. Eastern Kentucky was outscored 56-14 in the paint.
Ohio State shot 57.8 percent and had 23 assists against just nine turnovers. Hoskins helped the Buckeyes with her shooting and passing, hitting 10 of 14 field goals to go along with 10 assists.
The Buckeyes' point guard relishes working with Davenport and Merrill.
"I believe that they are two of the best post players in the country, so my job is easy. I just have to get the ball up to them," Hoskins said.
Eastern Kentucky hung tough for a half against an Ohio State team returning most of its players from a 30-5 squad that reached the round of 16 in last season's NCAA tournament.
The Colonels, led by Laura Shelton's 10 points, trailed 37-27 at halftime but they quickly fell apart after the break.
Ohio State scored 25 of the first 31 points of the second half to build a 62-33 lead with 10:19 remaining. Davenport had 10 points and Hoskins had four points and three assists in the surge.