Last time the Gophers played the Buckeyes, in the '03 Big Ten Tournament, Janel McCarville landed the only triple-double in tournament history, outplaying the taller Jessica Davenport on both ends of the floor. Ohio State won on superior guard play.

What a difference a year makes. Last night McCarville scored 22 points, but no assists and no blocks, and picked up a technical, her fourth foul, for complaining about her third. The T "devastated our team," Coach Borton said.

Davenport, who played all 40 minutes, finished with 35 points (plus 11 boards, 5 blocks, 3 assists) on 15-19 shooting, at least her third 30+ point outing this year. When she got layups she made them; when she found herself a few feet from the basket, she sank a string of effortless bank shots, shooting directly over Baby Shaq as if she had six inches on McCarville, not two. "My teammates found me in good spots," Davenport said; "once she gets position it's over," McCarville admitted.

Midway through the first half our Gophers led 21-15. Then Davenport began to get position. Ohio State ended the half with a 13-2 run, Minnesota with two traveling calls, missed layups, and an offensive foul that negated Shannon Schonrock's first three-pointer; the second half mostly brought more of the same.

Shannon Bolden held Caity Matter to 7 points on 1-8 shooting but scored no points herself; Broback and Lacey showed good effort but dreadful close-in shooting. April Calhoun scored 12, mostly on drives. No one else on either team hit double figures."Our guards played excellent defense," said coach Borton, "but we didn't have an answer for Jessica Davenport."

Does anyone?