By: Curt Cavin and Phillip B. Wilson (IndyStar.com) — Top-seeded Ohio State got off to a shaky start Friday night in opening its portion of the Big Ten women’s basketball tournament at Conseco Fieldhouse, but it settled down enough to advance, which is the key at this point in the season.

The 66-55 victory over Illinois pushed the nation’s No. 10 team into tonight’s semifinals against Wisconsin.
Buckeyes coach Jim Foster thought the difference was a frequent switch to a zone defense that forced 18 turnovers.

“It disrupted their continuity,” he said of the Illini. “It’s to our advantage if athletes (are) standing still.”
Ohio State, the tournament’s No. 1 seed for a record sixth consecutive year, improved to 28-4. No. 9 seed Illinois, which has played the Buckeyes in this round each of the past three seasons, likely ended its season 16-14.

Three-time Big Ten Player of the Year Jantel Lavender started the game 1-of-7 from the field. The junior said she was too far from the basket when she received entry passes. Then she rushed the shots.

Sophomore guard Samantha Prahalis told her to relax.

“Stay poised, stay calm,” she said.

Lavender leveled out, making seven of her final 10 shots for 19 points, although she also had five turnovers.

Prahalis managed 13 points and her standard (and league-leading) eight assists, but she was 1-of-8 from 3-point range.

The defense of the Ohio State guards — Prahalis, Brittany Johnson and Shavelle Little — put pressure on the Illini. They combined for seven steals.

Aside from Lavender’s turnovers, Ohio State committed only five others.

“At this stage of the season, you’ll take that,” Foster said.

Seniors Lacey Simpson and Jenna Smith each had 13 points for Illinois. Smith also had 11 rebounds.
MSU, Iowa in semis

Both teams had to endure for the most part without key players, but second-seeded Michigan State took care of Michigan 61-50 and third-seeded Iowa outscored Penn State 82-75 in the afternoon quarterfinals.

The 25th-ranked Spartans (22-8) were without 6-9 senior center Allyssa DeHaan for all but eight first-half minutes; she sat out with back spasms that have plagued her since Wednesday.

The Hawkeyes (18-12) won despite leading scorer Kachine Alexander sitting down with foul trouble. The junior guard scored 17 points in 20 minutes but fouled out with 3:39 left.

Iowa freshman guard Jaime Printy had a team-high 22 points and sophomore forward Kelly Krei put up a career-high 20 as the teams combined for 95 second-half points.

Penn State senior guard Tyra Grant had a tourney-high 32 points in what could be her final game if the Lady Lions (17-13) aren’t selected Propecia buy for the NIT.

“She did her best to will us to victory today,” said Penn State coach Coquese Washington.

The Spartans and Hawkeyes meet in today’s 5 p.m. semifinal. Iowa won the lone regular season meeting at home 77-66.

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