Lavender leads OSU over Temple

Associated Press

PHILADELPHIA

Jantel Lavender wouldn’t let Temple spoil Jim Foster’s homecoming.

Lavender had a career-high 37 points and 12 rebounds to lead No. 7 Ohio State to an 84-75 win over the Owls on Friday in the season opener for both teams.

Foster grew up in Philadelphia and went to Temple. He had about 60 friends and family members in attendance, including his mother.

“This was more difficult than most road games should be with so many outside things,” Foster said. “It was a good win for us.”

Lavender made it easier for her coach, hitting 16 of her 22 shots as the Owls couldn’t stop the preseason All-America.

“Coach Foster told me to slow my game down a little bit and not rush each shot,” Lavender said. “My teammates helped me get a lot of good looks.”

The Buckeyes were missing starting point guard Samantha Prahalis, suspended for three games by the school for a secondary NCAA rules violation. Prahalis sat out Friday and will miss a home game against Eastern Michigan as well as a road game at LSU.

Freshman Darryce Moore (Boardman) played briefly for the Buckeyes and did not score in her debut.

Qwedia Wallace had a career-high 32 points to lead Temple, which hit 12 of 23 3-pointers.

The score was tied at 60 with 8:36 left before Ohio State used a 15-4 spurt to take control. Lavender got it started with a lay-in and Brittany Johnson capped it with a 3-pointer with 3:30 left that put the game away.

Tayler Hill and Johnson had 16 points each. Alison Jackson added 11.