Moore, OSU beat Schiffauer, MSU

Associated Press

EAST LANSING, Mich.

Samantha Prahalis made a jumper from the left wing, put her right index finger against her lips and quieted Michigan State’s crowd.

Prahalis later scored four of her 15 points in less than a minute late in the game, helping the 11th-ranked Buckeyes beat the Spartans 64-56 on Sunday.

The game matched up two former Boardman High standouts. Courtney Schiffauer scored 12 points for Michigan State, and Darryce Moore came off the bench to score 11 for the Buckeyes.

Prahalis, a senior from Commack, N.Y., said she had “Shhh....” tattooed on her finger during her freshman year for moments like the one at Michigan State where the announced crowd of 14,181 screamed early and often.

“It was hard to hear; it was super loud,” Prahalis said. “We just concentrated and we were able to hit some big shots.”

Tayler Hill, whose 3-pointer with three minutes left in the first half put the Buckeyes ahead for good, scored 21 points and grabbed seven rebounds.

Ohio State (17-1, 4-1 Big Ten) handed the Spartans (12-6, 4-1) their first loss in the conference.

Ohio State enjoyed some 11-point cushions in the second half and led the Spartans 54-44 with seven-plus minutes left in the game.

After Michigan State pulled within three points for a second time in the final minutes, Prahalis made a jumper and two free throws to give Ohio State a seven-point lead with 35 seconds left.

What does Foster think of Prahalis’ playfully taunting tattoo on her finger?

“I think it is very Samantha, very New York,” he said.

Amber Stokes scored 10 for the Buckeyes, who made 48 percent of their shots and held Michigan State to 36-percent shooting.