Prahalis scores 34 for OSU

Associated Press

COLUMBUS

After a difficult loss, Samantha Prahalis decided to assert herself even more.

Prahalis scored a career-high 34 points and No. 10 Ohio State made the most of an eight-day layoff to beat Wisconsin 72-58 on Monday night, the Buckeyes’ 20th consecutive victory over the Badgers.

The Buckeyes (21-2, 8-2 Big Ten) had lots of time to mull a disappointing 76-65 loss at Minnesota on Jan. 29.

“I kind of wanted to come out aggressive,” Prahalis said. “Not necessarily was I passive in the game that we lost, but I felt like I could have been more aggressive. So today I made it a point to be.”

Usually, Prahalis thinks first about spreading the offense among her teammates. She came in averaging 19 points but almost seven assists.

She made 12 of 18 shots from the field, 4 of 5 behind the arc and all six free throws to go with five assists, two rebounds and four steals.

“She had some very good opportunities early and felt good about herself,” coach Jim Foster said.

Tayler Hill, the Big Ten’s leading scorer, added 18 points for the Buckeyes, who broke the game open with a 16-3 second-half run.

Darryce Moore (Boardman) had two points and five rebounds in 11 minutes off the bench for the Buckeyes.

“Prahalis is a very tough cover, Hill as well,” Wisconsin coach Bobbie Kelsey said. “We didn’t do a very good job of guarding those two.”

Taylor Wurtz had 20 points and Morgan Paige 14 for Wisconsin (8-15, 4-7), which hit a school-record 12 3-pointers.

Wisconsin closed to 49-46 with 12 minutes remaining, but Moore banked in a short shot and Hill hit a fastbreak layup off Prahalis’ assist to make it 53-46. After a 3 for Wisconsin Ohio State went on a 12-0 run to push the lead to 65-49.