WOMEN'S HOOPS Packer's shot lifts OSU to victory

Her last-second basket gave the Buckeyes a 61-59 win over Penn State.
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) -- Ohio State had its only lead when it mattered the most.
Marscilla Packer grabbed a rebound and scored on a fadeaway jumper with two seconds remaining to lift the sixth-ranked Buckeyes to a 61-59 victory over Penn State on Sunday.
It was the first lead of the game for the Buckeyes (25-2, 15-1), who have 16 straight games heading into the Big Ten tournament.
"The ball kind of just fell into my hands," Packer said. "Luckily, I was in the right spot and got the shot off."
Fell behind early
Ohio State didn't have a field goal for nearly the first 11 minutes of the game and trailed by as many as 17 in the second half in front of an emotional Penn State crowd. Buckeyes coach Jim Foster said his team played well defensively early despite the field goal drought.
"In the second half, we inhaled, pulled up our shorts and just played," Foster said.
For awhile though, it seemed as though Penn State would pull off a huge upset in the midst of a visible distraction in the stands. About three dozen people protested against Nittany Lions coach Rene Portland before and during the game, laying out a rainbow flag on three rows of empty seats, then waving the large banner during halftime.
Peaceful protest
The protest, which was peaceful, was related to a federal discrimination lawsuit filed by former Penn State player Jennifer Harris against Portland. Harris' lawsuit accused the coach of asking her to try to look more "feminine" and of maintaining a discriminatory policy against lesbians or those who she thought were lesbians. The university also is named in the suit.
Portland has denied the charges, and her supporters responded to the protest before the game by holding up "We Believe in Rene" signs.
"Can't we just talk about basketball?" Portland said when asked to comment on the protesters. She has declined to comment all season about the allegations.
With the score tied at 59, Jessica Davenport took an inbounds pass and wheeled in the lane toward the basket, but her shot bounced off the rim.
Winning shot
Packer grabbed the rebound and scored, raising her arms in the air as she raced back on defense. Penn State missed a desperation 3 and the Buckeyes celebrated following a 30-11 rally to end the game.
The Buckeyes missed their first nine shots as Penn State built a 24-8 lead after two 3-pointers by Brianne O'Rourke and another 3 from fellow freshman Mashea Williams.
"In the first half, we played embarrassing," Davenport said.