March 29, 2005

Columbus, Ohio - The Ohio State women's basketball team celebrated its 40th season with a Big Ten co-championship and its first appearance in the "Sweet 16" since 1993. The Buckeyes established a program record by becoming the first OSU squad to win 30 games in a single season, finishing 30-5 and 14-2 in the Big Ten schedule.

Sophomore Jessica Davenport was named 2005 Big Ten Player of the Year and was named Ohio State's initial Associated Press First-Team All-American. Senior Caity Matter capped a stellar career with her third-straight all-conference honor at guard, while sophomore Brandie Hoskins was named third-team all-league and to the 2005 All-Big Ten Tournament team.

BUCKEYES CELEBRATE 40TH SEASON WITH RECORD-SETTING CAMPAIGN
In it's 40th season of women's basketball, Ohio State not only established a program record for wins in a single season with 30, but also set several additional team records. The Buckeyes set team single-season records in the following categories:

2004-05         No.    Rank   Prev.(Yr.)
Wins            30      1     28 (2x)
Games           35      1     34 (2x)
3-pt. FG        191     1     172 (`02-03)
3-pt. FG Att.   490     1     484 (`01-02)
3-pt. FG Perc.  .390    1     .388 (`02-03)
FT Perc.        .758    1     .738 (`88-89)
Assists         638     1     600 (`84-85)
Blocks          165     1     145 (`03-04)

DAVENPORT NAMED ASSOCIATED PRESS FIRST-TEAM ALL-AMERICAN
Jessica Davenport was named an Associated Press First-Team All-American March 23. The voting was conducted by 45 members of the national media panel, who also vote in the weekly AP national rankings poll. Davenport led the Buckeyes this season with 19.3 points per game and 9.3 rebounds per game.

Louisiana State's Seimone Augustus, Kansas State's Kendra Wecker, Duke's Monique Currie and Texas Christian's Sandora Irvin join Davenport on the first team.

Davenport is Ohio State's second Associated Press All-American, but is the initial first-team selection. Former Buckeye Katie Smith earned second-team honors in her senior season in 1996.

OSU REACHES REGIONAL SEMIFINALS FOR FIRST TIME SINCE 1993
With the second-round victory March 22 vs. Maryland, Ohio State earned its first berth to the NCAA tournament regional semifinals since 1993, when the Buckeyes finished second in the country with an 84-82 loss to Texas Tech in the national championship game.

Overall, Ohio State made its seventh appearance in the national semifinals.

OHIO STATE IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT
The loss in the regional semifinals vs. Rutgers dropped Ohio State's all-time NCAA tournament record to 17-14 in 14 overall appearances.

Ohio State made its first appearance in the regional semifinals since 1993, when the Buckeyes finished second in the nation with an 84-82 loss to Texas Tech in the NCAA championship game.

The loss Sunday set Ohio State's record at 3-4 in NCAA tournament regional semifinal games.

30 WINS A FIRST FOR BUCKEYES, BUT NOT FOR FOSTER
With the 75-65 victory over Maryland in the NCAA tournament second round, the 2004-05 Ohio State team became the first to win 30 games in a single-season in program history. The 86-45 win over Holy Cross in the first round set the record for season victories with 29.

With the 64-58 loss to Rutgers in the Philadelphia regional semifinal, Ohio State finished the 2004-05 season with a 30-5 (.857) overall record.

The 35 games Ohio State played in 2004-05 were the most by a Buckeye squad, topping the 1979-80 team that finished the season 16-18 in 34 contests and the 1995-96 unit that went 21-13.

The 30-win season for Ohio State also serves as the third 30-win campaign for OSU head coach Jim Foster in his 27-year career. Two of his Vanderbilt teams - 1992-93 and 2001-02 - posted 30-win seasons.

Purdue holds the mark for most wins in a season by a Big Ten team with 34 in its 1999 national championship season.

MATTER COMPLETES CAREER AMONG BUCKEYE ELITE AND SINGLE-SEASON LEADERS
Senior guard Caity Matter concluded her career in the NCAA tournament regional semifinal against Rutgers. Matter, a three-time All-Big Ten honoree, ended her career with 1,523 points, which stands in 10th place all-time at Ohio State. She ranks as the career leader at Ohio State in three-point field goals (270) three-point attempts (657) and three-point percentage (.411). She also finished her career as the all-time leader for Ohio State in free throw percentage (.856/ 213-248).

In the single-season record book, Matter would have moved into first place in free throw percentage at a 90 percent clip, but fell shy of the minimun attempt barrier, going 72-for-80 from the foul line. The minimum established is 100 attempts in a season.

Matter, who holds the Ohio State standard for three-point field goals in a season at 106 established in her sophomore year of 2002-03, equalled the 73 makes she had from behind the arc from the 2003-04 season this year. In 2004-05, Matter buried 73 of 164 attempts (.445) to tie for fifth all-time. Her percentage of .445 rates third all-time for a single season, behind her .451 (106/235) set in 2002-03 and the .450 by Katie Smith (36/80) in 1992-93.

DAVENPORT ESTABLISHES OSU SINGLE-SEASON RECORDS IN 2004-05
A handful of Buckeyes invaded the Ohio State all-time single-season records charts in the 2004-05 campaign. Center Jessica Davenport set a standard by gathering 325 rebounds and swatting 116 blocked shots in her sophomore season.

Davenport also posted top single season marks with 677 points, which ranks third all-time, and 262 field goals, which stands second all-time. She moved into the single-season Top 5 in free throws made (152/fourth) and attempts (197/ fifth).

DAVENPORT CLIMBS UP CAREER RECORDS
Sophomore center Jessica Davenport catapulted her way up several career records with her All-American season in 2004-05. She totalled an Ohio State single-season record 116 blocked shots to move her into second place all-time with 196 career swats. She trails former Buckeye Mary Sivak (1979-82), who accumulated 241 blocks in her career.

For the second straight season, Davenport shot approximately 60 percent from the field. She connected on 262-of-446 for the year for a 58.7 percentage. For her career, Davenport is 412-for-686, a 60.1 percentage which ranks second all-time at OSU. Former Buckeye Courtney Coleman (2000-03) is the all-time field-goal percentage leader at 60.3 on 596 makes in 988 attempts.

Davenport also is near the Ohio State Top 20 in rebounds after two seasons. She sits at 21st with 503 for her career.

PAIR OF BUCKEYE GUARDS RANKED IN ALL-TIME TOP 10 IN CAREER STATISTICS
Ohio State guards Ashley Allen and Kim Wilburn climbed up the career statistical lists following the conclusion of the 2004-05 season.

Wilburn, a junior, moved into the all-time Top 5 in both steals and assists. She has swiped 268 steals to rank third all-time and has dished 431 assists for fifth all-time.

Allen, who also ranks in the all-time Top 20 in assists at 18th with 261, is seventh in career three-point field goals (96), attempts (278) and percentage at .345.

BLANTON TAKES LIKING TO POSTSEASON STAGE
Ohio State sophomore forward Stephanie Blanton tied a career-high with 12 points against Maryland in the NCAA second round. The game marked the third time in her career she scored 12 points. Blanton connected for 12 points earlier this season at Ohio Dec. 1. Blanton converted 5-of-6 from the field, tying a career high for field goals in a game.

Blanton, who started her third straight contest and seventh in 2004-05 vs. Rutgers in the regional semis, established a career high with 35 minutes vs. the Scarlet Knights.

In five career NCAA tournament games, Blanton has shot 67 percent from the field on a 12-18 figure, including a 10-of-15 clip in the 2005 tournament.

STARTING FIVE CARRIES LOAD IN WIN VS. MARYLAND; FOUR BUCKEYES REACH DOUBLE-DIGITS
The Buckeyes have been a deep team throughout the season with eight players averaging at least 10 minutes per outing. In the second round vs. Maryland, Ohio State's starting five accounted for 73 of 75 points. Four of the five starters registered double-digits in points. With the win over the Terps, Ohio State upped its record to 8-0 when four players reach double-digits in points.

The most players to reach double-figures in an NCAA game for Ohio State is five by the 1985-86 team in an NCAA regional semifinal against Maryland March 16. The Buckeyes topped the Terrapins, 87-71.

HOSKINS CARRIES HOT HAND AT HEIGHT OF SEASON
Sophomore guard Brandie Hoskins netted 22 points vs. Maryland (3/22) on 10-of-15 shooting from the field. The 22-point total was one shy of her career-high of 23 set in the Big Ten tournament semifinal vs. Minnesota (3/6/05). The 10 field goals tied a career-high for a single game, which also came against the Golden Gophers March 6. The 15 attempts were the most in a single game for Hoskins in her two seasons as a Buckeye.

Hoskins has scored at least 12 points in each of her last eight games and nine of her last 10. During that streak, Hoskins has upped her points per game average from 11.6 to 13.2.

Hoskins set career-bests for an NCAA tournament game in points (22), field goals (10), field goal attempts (15) and rebounds (6). She added five assists, the second most for Hoskins in NCAA play.

In round one vs. Holy Cross, Hoskins set a season-high with eight assists.

MATTER 10TH BUCKEYE ALL-TIME TO TOP 1,500 CAREER POINTS
Senior guard Caity Matter came into the game March 22 against Maryland needing just one point to reach 1,500 for her career. She finished the evening with 16 points to set her career total at the time to 1,515. Matter is the 10th Buckeye all-time to score at least 1,500 points in her career. Matter ranks No. 10 all-time at Ohio State with her 1,523 career tallies after an eight-point effort vs. Rutgers March 27.

NO. 2 SEED HIGHEST FOR OHIO STATE SINCE 1993 NCAA TOURNAMENT
Ohio State's No. 2 seeding in the Philadelphia Regional for the 2005 NCAA Tournament is the highest for a Buckeye squad since the 1992-93 National Runner-up team entered the NCAA tournament with a No. 1 seed in the East Regional. That season, the Buckeyes dropped an 84-82 decision to Texas Tech in the national title game.

ANOTHER DOUBLE-DOUBLE FOR DAVENPORT
Sophomore center Jessica Davenport recorded her 14th double-double of the season (at least 10 points and 10 rebounds) and 18th of her career with 22 points and 14 rebounds vs. Rutgers in the Philadelphia Regional Semifinal. The double-double against Rutgers was her second in three NCAA games this season. The 14 boards is a career high in NCAA play, while the 22 points matched her output from the first-round game vs. Holy Cross. Her 14 rebounds tied for the second most by a Buckeye in NCAA tournament play. Nikita Lowry pulled down 15 rebounds in a second-round game vs. James Madison March 19, 1989.

Davenport is the eighth Buckeye all-time to register a double-double in an NCAA tournament game.

LaToya Turner was the last Buckeye to accomplish the feat March 20, 2004 with 10 points and 11 rebounds against West Virginia in the first round at St. John Arena.

Former Buckeye Tracey Hall (1985-88) posted five double-doubles in the NCAA tournament during her career.

ALLEN MAKES NCAA DEBUT
Senior guard Ashley Allen, who missed the previous two Ohio State appearances in the NCAA tournament because of injury, played in her first career NCAA game in the first-round victory over Holy Cross. She scored seven points, handed out four assists and swiped three steals in her NCAA debut vs. the Crusaders.

Against Maryland, she handed out a game-high eight assists to set a personal-best in NCAA play. Her season-high in assists is nine and career-best is 10 vs. Wayne State Nov. 11, 2002.

Allen also was 2-of-3 from 3-point territory, including a buzzer-beating make from well-beyond the arc to give the Buckeyes a 35-34 lead heading into halftime. Allen added another three steals vs. the Terrapins.

OPPONENTS CHIPPED PAINT OFF RIM AGAINST BUCKEYES IN 2004-05 In the regional semifinals, Ohio State limited Rutgers to just 40.7 percent shooting from the field Sunday on 24-of-59. For the season, Ohio State held 33 of 35 opponents to less than 50 percent shooting from the field. The Buckeyes finished 2004-05 with a 29-4 record in those games.

In the Big Ten semifinals March 6, Minnesota became the first team to connect on more than half its shots since Iowa completed the same feat Jan. 13 in an 80-57 loss in Columbus. The Hawkeyes went 21-42 from the floor.

The Gophers came out on the winning end, hitting 51.9 percent of their field goals (27-52).

BUCKEYES PAINTING THE LANE SCARLET AND GRAY
In the NCAA regional semis vs. Rutgers, the Buckeyes were outscored in the paint for just the sixth time in 35 games this season. Rutgers gained a 26-24 edge in the lane, dropping the Buckeyes' record to 4-2 when outscored by their opponents in the paint.

DAVENPORT THIRD SOPHOMORE TO SCORE 1,000 CAREER POINTS
Sophomore center Jessica Davenport cleared the 1,000-point career mark with a lay-in at the 3:24 mark of the first half against Minnesota in the Big Ten tournament semifinal. Davenport is the third Ohio State player to reach the milestone in her sophomore season, joining former All-Americans Katie Smith (1993-96) and Frani Washington (1978-80) as the only Buckeyes to complete the feat as sophomores. Overall, Davenport is the 24th Buckeye to reach 1,000 points for her career.

Smith reached the 1,000-point mark Feb. 13, 1994 at Purdue. It was her 52nd career game. Smith is the youngest Buckeye to score 1,000 points at 19 years, 8 months and 9 days.

Davenport played her 63rd career game in the Big Ten semis vs. Minnesota. As of that game, her age was 19 years, 9 months and 10 days.

DAVENPORT NAMED FINALIST FOR WOODEN AWARD
Jessica Davenport was named a finalist for the 2005 John R. Wooden Award by the Wooden committee March 8. Davenport, who was named consensus 2005 Big Ten Player of the Year March 1, is one of 17 to be listed on the official voting ballot for the Wooden award, which recognizes the top player in the nation.

The 2005 Women's Wooden award winner will be announced at 1 p.m. EST April 9 during a live, national broadcast on CBS. The announcement will be made at the Los Angeles Athletic Club.

A national poll was conducted by the John R. Wooden Award National Advisory Board to determine the ballot for the 2004-05 Wooden Award All-America Team. The Top 17 selection has been based upon each individual's performance and her team's success this season. The John R. Wooden Award was created in 1976 and is one of the most prestigious awards in college basketball.

Davenport is one of four Big Ten players on the final ballot. Minnesota's Janel McCarville, Michigan State's Lindsay Bowen and Penn State's Tanisha Wright join Davenport on the list.

DAVENPORT NAMED TO KODAK/WBCA ALL-REGION 6 TEAM, FINALIST FOR ALL-AMERICAN HONORS
Jessica Davenport was named to the Kodak/Women's Basketball Coaches Association All-Region 6 Team March 14. As an all-region selection, Davenport becomes a finalist for 2005 Kodak/WBCA All-America honors.