COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) – Marscilla Packer didn’t like the way she was shooting Saturday, but her confidence never broke.
Packer’s jumper with 16 seconds left lifted No. 7 Ohio State past Kentucky 53-51. Packer said she thought about attempting a 3-pointer but instead dribbled the ball and took a safer shot.
“She is one of those shooters that knows the shot will fall and if she has a couple of poor shooting games she just sticks with it,” Buckeyes coach Jim Foster said.
Kentucky’s Samantha Mahoney put up a shot under the basket with 1 second left that was deflected by Buckeyes center Jessica Davenport and sailed over the rim, preserving the win.
The Wildcats (12-4), who shot 18 percent from the field in the first half, outscored the Buckeyes 36-29 in the second period. Sarah Elliott had 18 points and Mahoney added 12.
Coach Mickie DeMoss said she was proud of the way her team fought. The loss snapped Kentucky’s eight-game winning streak.
“We could have dropped our heads in the first half and that says a lot for our program,” DeMoss said. “We fought extremely hard and can build on it.”
Davenport led Ohio State (13-1) in scoring with 24 points and 12 rebounds. Brandie Hoskins added 15 points, and Packer had eight.
The Buckeyes have won six straight.
Both teams got off to a slow start. With Kentucky shooting poorly and committing nine turnovers in the first half, Ohio State built a 24-15 lead at the break.
Jenn’e Jackson’s layup with 4:32 left pulled Kentucky to within two points at 49-47.
But a layup by Davenport, who accounted for all of Ohio State’s 10 points from 12:57 to 3:33, put the Buckeyes back up by four at 51-47. Kentucky tied it on jumpers from Mahoney and Elliott, setting up Packer’s game-winning shot.
Ohio State guard Brandie Hoskins said she never doubted Packer.
“It was crazy because it was just how we do it in practice,” Hoskins said. “So we were all really relaxed and when I saw how good her follow through was, I knew it was good.”
The Buckeyes shot 46 percent for the game. The Wildcats have held nine straight opponents to 55 points or less.
