Michigan rallies past Ohio State women

Associated Press

COLUMBUS

Rachel Sheffer was calm as she approached the free throw line with a chance to help Michigan earn a memorable win over Ohio State.

She capped a career-best 23-point performance with a pair of free throws with 29 seconds to play to help the Wolverines beat the No. 24 Buckeyes 69-66.

Sheffer’s free throws put the Wolverines up 67-66 after they trailed by 14 early in the second half.

“Just like every day in practice, no pressure really,” she said to herself.

Michigan had never beaten the Buckeyes (13-7, 4-4) twice in a season and the Wolverines had not won in Columbus since Jan. 21, 2001.

Michigan’s 64-51 win against Ohio State on Dec. 30 in Ann Arbor was its first in the series in 15 games.

Samantha Prahalis led the Buckeyes with 25 points; 19 came in the first half when she went 7 for 7 from the floor, including five 3-pointers, for a 46-33 lead.

“She just went off,” Michigan coach Kevin Borseth said. “She was the X-factor in the first half.”

Michigan (13-7, 6-2) whittled away at the deficit and got within 66-65 when Sheffer was fouled by Jantel Lavender while making a shot.

She hit the free throw with 1:22 left and Ohio State missed two shots before fouling Sheffer again.

“We couldn’t get a stop [in the second half],” Prahalis said. “Then on offense it was kind of dull and stale. We weren’t really moving or getting into a fluid rhythm.”