Parahalis scores 28, Hill adds 23 in Buckeyes’ win

Staff/wire report

COLUMBUS

LSU’s LaSondra Barrett summed it up in a sentence.

“[Samantha Prahalis] and Tayler Hill pretty much killed us,” she said.

Prahalis scored 28 points and flirted with a triple-double, and Hill added 23 including a critical 3-pointer, to lead No. 18 Ohio State past No. 20 LSU 77-68 on Sunday night.

Prahalis had eight points and an assist in a 12-4 second-half run that gave the Buckeyes (5-0) the lead for good.

“We weren’t aware of where Sammy was, giving her some quality looks — and she knocked them down,” said Tigers coach Nikki Caldwell.

Hill scored 19 of her 23 points in the second half.

There had been nine ties and eight lead changes when the score was tied at 48. That’s when Prahalis took over.

First, she hit two free throws at the 9:28 mark for a lead that the Buckeyes would never relinquish. After Hill followed an Amber Stokes steal with two foul shots, Prahalis hit consecutive 3-pointers, the first on a kick-out pass from Darryce Moore and the second on a quick stop-and-pop from Hill while trailing a fast break.

Then she drove and fed Kalpana Beach for a bucket inside and a 60-52 lead.

Prahalis finished with eight rebounds and eight assists, falling just short of her second career triple-double.

“She’s a great player,” Hill said of her 5-foot-7 running mate at guard. “She’s the smallest player on the court, but she has the biggest heart.”

LSU fought back to cut the lead to 62-56 only to have Prahalis hit a stepback jumper in transition, then feed Stokes on a break for a 66-58 advantage with five minutes remaining.

“I was feeling it and [my teammates] were finding me,” the Buckeyes’ lone senior said.

Moore (Boardman) finished with four points and three rebounds in 17 minutes, and Amy Scullion (Salem) had three points in six minutes.