Boston College Athletics
Women's Basketball Cruises Past Ohio State
June 21, 1999 | Women's Basketball
March 13, 1999
By TERESA M. WALKER
AP Sports Writer
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Reserve Becky Gottstein scored a career-high 23 points Saturday night in helping Boston College extend its first NCAA tournament appearance with a 72-59 victory over Ohio State.
The Eagles (22-7) will meet either No. 1 seed Tennessee or 16th-seeded Applachian State Monday night in the second round of the East Regional.
Boston College improved on the best season in school history by staying patient against Ohio State (17-11) and a defense that had been the Big Ten's stingiest, holding opponents to 40 percent shooting from the floor.
The Eagles responded with one of their best games all season, hitting 54 percent.
Gottstein, who normally starts but came off the bench due to a sprained ankle suffered in the Big East tournament, led the way. She was 6-of-7 in the first half for 13 points, and finished 10-of-14 and grabbed 12 rebounds.
Alissa Murphy added 22 points for Boston College and Brianne Stepherson had 11.
Ohio State tied the game for the last time at 39-39 on a free throw by Marrita Porter. Then Gottstein helped the Eagles take control by scoring the first four points of a 10-0 run that left them ahead 49-39 with 12:18 left.
Boston College, which beat Ohio State for the first time in six tries, stretched the lead to as much as 17 down the stretch.
Ohio State led 34-31 at halftime after an ugly first half in which the teams showed how rusty they were after a two-week layoff. They combined for 32 turnovers but had just 12 in the second half.
Michaela Moua led Ohio State, which hadn't played in the tournament since 1996, with 16 points. Porter and Jamie Lewis each added 14.
