The Lady Lions celebrate after a 84-66 win over Ohio State that clinched a share of the Big Ten regular season title. (photo Mark Selders/Penn State Athletic Communications)

Penn State routs Ohio State, earns at least share of Big Ten title

University Park, PA (Sports Network) - Nikki Greene finished with 25 points and 15 rebounds as No. 11 Penn State earned at least a share of the Big Ten title with an 84-66 dismantling of eighth-ranked Ohio State.

"I'm just really happy" said Head Coach Coquese Washington who took over the reins at Penn State five years ago. "All of these kids came here with the promise that we'd be in this position, but they had nothing to go on as a first time head coach. For them to have that kind of faith and to come here and have that experience it really means a lot."

Mia Nickson and Maggie Lucas also contributed double-doubles for Penn State (22-5, 12-3 Big Ten), which had not won a regular-season conference title since 2004. Nickson contributed 18 points and 15 rebounds, while Lucas added 12 points and 10 boards for the Lady Lions.

"There are no words. It's amazing. It's just amazing", Green told reporters after the game. "We worked so hard to get here and I couldn't see it with anyone else around me. My team is amazing. I'm so glad I was able to come here to get the opportunity."

Samantha Prahalis had 16 points and eight assists to pace Ohio State (23-4, 10-4), which could have taken the conference's top spot with a win. Tayler Hill and Kalpana Beach added 16 and 12 points, respectively, in defeat.

Penn State held a pair of three-point advantages over the opening four minutes of the game before reeling off a 13-4 run to jump out to a 22-13 lead with 12 minutes left in the half.

Beach scored the game's next four points on a jumper and a layup to bring Ohio State within five, but Penn State scored the next six points to take a double- digit lead, 28-17.

The Buckeyes responded with a 7-0 spurt to close the gap to four. However, Penn State ended the half with a 17-6 run and held a 45-30 advantage at the break.

Greene had 16 points and 10 rebounds in the first half to lead Penn State, while Prahalis recorded 10 points and five assists to pace Ohio State.

Penn State, which had dropped 13 of the last 14 meetings between these two teams, then cruised through the second half, leading by as many as 21 points en route to the easy win.

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