OSU women top E. Michigan

Associated Press

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Ohio State sure didn’t look tired after playing its starters for all but a combined 38 minutes in its first two games, even though they were 48 hours apart.

The No. 7 Buckeyes got 26 points from Jantel Lavender and three others in double figures on Sunday, allowing them to pull away from pesky Eastern Michigan for a 74-62 win.

Ohio State (2-0) is learning to cope without point guard Samantha Prahalis, who sat the second of a three-game suspension for secondary NCAA violations. She has started 71 games the past two seasons.

Also absent were three other players because of injuries or illness, and Ohio State coach Jim Foster went to his young bench for only 10 minutes during an 84-75 win at Temple on Friday.

On Sunday, the Buckeyes opened a 13-point lead in the first half, saw the Eagles tie the score at 28 on the first basket of the second half and led by only five with 9 minutes left.

“The whole team seemed a little tired,” Eastern Michigan coach AnnMarie Gilbert said of the Buckeyes.

Foster disagreed and used the stat sheet to make his case.

“My response would be tired teams don’t shoot 60 percent from the field,” he said. “Tired teams don’t shoot 89 percent from the foul line. End of discussion.”

The Buckeyes made 18 of 30 from the field and eight of nine free throws in the second half while hitting 54 percent of their field goals for the game.