[LitlBuck]

Dispatch

June 15, 2009

Lavender is OSU female athlete of year

Jantel Lavender was recognized today as he female athlete of the year by Ohio State. It would be hard to argue with the choice.

Lavender had a sensational sophomore season for the Buckeyes. She repeated as the Big Ten player of the year while leading Ohio State (29-6) to its fifth consecutive conference championship and the conference tournament title.

Along the way, she led the Big Ten in scoring (20.0), rebounding (9.9) and shooting percentage (54.9 percent). She also set a conference record with 374 total rebounds and helped the Buckeyes reach the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament.

In the postseason, Lavender was named to the State Farm/WBCA Coaches' and the USBWA All-America teams. She was a second team choice on the Associated Press All America team.

She now is a candidate for the Suzy Favor Big Ten Female Athlete of the Year. Lavender is headed to U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Col., later this week for the second round of trials for the USA team that will play in the World University Games next month in Belgrade, Serbia..

Posted by Jim Massie on June 15, 2009 1:22 PM