OSU women top Southern

Staff report

COLUMBUS

Tayler Hill had 21 points, four assists and five steals in 29 minutes to lead No. 12 Ohio State to an 83-49 victory over Southern University on Tuesday night.

Hill, who is 11th nationally in scoring at 21.3 points per game, had five steals in the first 15 minutes and converted all of them into layups to help the Buckeyes to a 44-24 halftime lead.

Ohio State (9-0) is off to its best start under head coach Jim Foster.

The Buckeyes can match the 2000-01 team for the program’s best start in the NCAA era since (1982-83) with a win Saturday at California.

“In the second half we lost our focus a little bit,” said Hill. “In games like this we need to come out and work on the things we need to. Overall I think we did OK. Everyone played and touched the ball.”

Kendra Coleman had 14 points for Southern (1-5), which has lost five straight. The Jaguars had allowed 60 points per game but the Buckeyes reached that mark with 12 minutes to go on a layup by Hill off one of seven assists by Samantha Prahalis, who had 17 points and seven assists.

Sophomore Darryce Moore, a Boardman High graduate, made her second consecutive start in place of Kalpana Beach. Moore finished with 12 points and six rebounds in 20 minutes .

“[Darryce] Moore is a pretty good player,” Foster said. “I’m sure that will help Beach’s return. When you look out there and you’re not out there, you get competitive quickly. I think she’s a lot closer to being ready, but we need to wait and see.”

Salem’s Amy Scullion scored two points and grabbed four rebounds in 10 minutes off the bench for the Buckeyes.