March 20, 2005

By DAVID GINSBURG
AP Sports Writer

COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) - The winningest women's basketball team in Ohio State history had an easy time seizing victory No. 29.

Jessica Davenport had 23 points and 11 rebounds, and Brandie Hoskins scored 14 to lead the Buckeyes past Holy Cross 86-45 Sunday in the opening round of the NCAA tournament.

Ohio State (29-4) started the second half with a 15-0 run to take a 57-24 lead, then cruised to the finish. The 29 wins surpasses the school mark set by the 1984-85 team and matched by the 1992-93 team, which advanced to the Final Four.

The second-seeded Buckeyes next face the winner of the game between Maryland and Wisconsin-Green Bay. Ohio State hasn't won in the second round since 1993, and coach Jim Foster pulled his starters with plenty of time left so they would be fresh on Tuesday.

Davenport, a 6-foot-4 sophomore center, had her first two shots blocked by Lisa Andrews but finished 10-for-16 from the floor. The Big Ten player of the year also had four blocks and two assists.

Andrews scored 13 points for 15th-seeded Holy Cross (20-11), which fell to 1-10 in NCAA tournament play. The Patriot League champions came in with a four-game winning streak, but were no match for the taller, quicker Buckeyes.

Ohio State opened by missing seven of its initial nine field-goal tries. Holy Cross couldn't capitalize, however, and Davenport scored eight points and Hoskins had six in a 20-2 run that made it 22-6.

Over the first 11 minutes, the Crusaders had six turnovers and were 3-for-13 from the field. The Buckeyes, in contrast, went 9-for-10 after their slow start.

A 9-2 spree that got Holy Cross to 24-15, but Davenport followed with a putback and Hoskins scored four straight points to put Ohio State up by 15.

The Buckeyes used 18-for-30 shooting to take a 42-24 lead at halftime. Ohio State was 0-for-6 from 3-point range at the break, but was credited with 34 points in the lane.

After the break, the Buckeyes expanded their scoring range. Davenport began the game-clinching 15-0 run with a hook, and Caity Matter and Ashley Allen added 3-pointers in a surge that lasted more than five minutes.

The Buckeyes played without forward Michelle Munoz, who watched from the bench with a foot injury. Munoz, who started 27 games for the Big Ten regular season co-champions, was not needed.