Prahalis, Taylor lead No. 8 OSU over Iowa

Associated Press

Columbus

Even Ohio State’s 1-2 punch recognizes the problems it causes.

“It’s probably hard for them,” Tayler Hill said.

“What are you going to do, double one of us?” Samantha Prahalis added. “It’s difficult.”

Prahalis scored 30 points and Hill added 28 to rally No. 8 Ohio State from a 15-point first-half deficit for an 84-71 victory over Iowa on Monday. The Buckeyes (15-0, 2-0 Big Ten) are off to their best start during the NCAA era.

“For them to account for 58 of their team’s points is amazing,” Iowa coach Lisa Bluder said.

Ohio State’s 15-game winning streak is the school’s longest since winning 17 in a row during the 2006-07 season. The Buckeyes won a school-record 20 in a row in 2005-06 and also in 1984-85.

They have won 26 of their last 27 games, the only loss to top-seeded Tennessee in a 2011 NCAA regional semifinal.

After falling behind by 15, the Buckeyes scored 23 of the next 26 points to take the lead and then pulled away. Shooting 35 percent behind the arc coming in, Ohio State made 10 of 15 3-pointers, including 4 of 6 by Prahalis and 5 of 7 by Hill, the Big Ten scoring leader.

Prahalis had 13 points during the 23-3 run, with Hill scoring eight and Ashley Adams two. Prahalis, who finished with seven assists, had the helping pass on three of her teammates’ buckets in the spurt.

“We just had to get after it harder. It’s that simple,” Ohio State coach Jim Foster said.

The Hawkeyes had taken control at the outset, cycling passes around the perimeter to open shooters while the Buckeyes struggled to guard them. Even when they missed, Johnson was there to score on a putback.

Morgan Johnson, who led the Hawkeyes (9-6, 1-1) with 25 points, made two free throws that capped a 6-0 run for a 9-4 lead. Then on consecutive possessions Kelly Krei and Jaime Printy, who finished with 13 points, made 3-pointers to push the Iowa advantage to 22-12.

Darryce Moore (Boardman) scored five points for the Buckeyes.