Dispatch
Twins make a great team
Lavender sisters at
OSU have rare support system
Thursday, March 20, 2008 6:51 AM
By
Jim Massie
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

NEAL C. LAURON Dispatch
Jazmine Lavender, left, has been a steadying influence on her younger sister, Jantel, the co-Big Ten Player of the Year. She offers Jantel support as one of Ohio State's team managers.

NEAL C. LAURON Dispatch
Jazmine Lavender, offering a hand slap to sister Jantel as she comes to the bench, isn't afraid to voice constructive criticism.
The inevitable first question becomes as old hat to every set of twins as John Wayne wearing a white Stetson. "Which one of you is older?"
Jazmine Lavender raised her right hand within the same heartbeat that her sister, Jantel, joined a surround-sound sentence ending with "by 46 minutes."
"She's my little big sister," a laughing Jantel said.
"She's my big little sister," Jazmine corrected while turning the laugh into another stereo moment.
Followers of Ohio State women's basketball should recognize Jantel Lavender by reputation and on sight. A 6-foot-4 freshman center, Jantel was named co-Big Ten player of the year after leading the Buckeyes to a share of the regular-season conference championship.
At 5-8, Jazmine is not as easy to spot on the bench even though she has been by her sister's side all season as one of the team's managers.
Cont...