Big Ten weekly honors go to Dials, Davenport
Published 12:00 am Friday, March 3, 2006
COLUMBUS (AP) — The pivot players on Ohio State’s men’s and women’s teams were the centers of attention in the Big Ten on Monday.
Terence Dials was the men’s player of the week and Jessica Davenport captured the women’s award for the fourth time this season.
The Buckeyes clinched an outright women’s title on Thursday, while the men hold a one-game lead in the Big Ten heading into Wednesday’s game at Northwestern. They close the regular season on Sunday at home against Purdue.
Dials had double-doubles in both Ohio State games. It was the first time this season Dials has won the weekly award, and the third time in the senior’s career. Teammates Je’Kel Foster and Jamar Butler have won the award this season, Foster taking it twice.
Dials had 19 points and 10 rebounds against Michigan State on Wednesday, then had his fifth consecutive double-double with 22 points and 11 rebounds in a victory over Michigan on Saturday. He hit 64 percent of his shots from the field in the games.
Davenport, a junior, scored at least 20 points in each of the Buckeyes’ three wins last week while winning the player of the week award for the ninth time in her career. Only Penn State’s Kelly Mazzante (2001-2004) has won it more (17 times).
Davenport had 22 points in a 69-38 win over No. 14 Michigan State on Monday, had her 10th double-double of the season with 20 points and 10 rebounds in a conference-clinching win against No. 12 Purdue on Thursday and then had 24 points in a win at Penn State on Sunday.