INDIANAPOLIS -- There really wasn't one moment that set off Penn State's second half comeback. Instead, it was a slow climb -- inch by inch, bit by bit.

But as time on Conseco Fieldhouse's scoreboard drained last night, the size discrepancy between the Penn State women's basketball team and the Ohio State Buckeyes (28-2) was simply too drastic to overcome. It was painfully obvious and it ended up dooming the Lady Lions, despite a breathless late-game charge that pushed the game into overtime.

Ohio State's posts are beefy, each of their bodies is built like that of a construction worker -- thick arms and solid torsos. And they really knew how to use them, especially senior center Jessica Davenport, who had a season-high 32 points, 10 rebounds and added five assists.

"She just dominated the whole game," Penn State junior guard Kam Gissendanner said. "It's hard to contain a player like that, of her caliber. She's an All-American. You can just hope she has an off day, but tonight she was pretty much on. We did our best to stop her."

The Buckeyes, who defeated the Lady Lions (15-16) in the Big Ten Women's Basketball Tournament's semifinals, relied on Davenport to earn them a spot in tonight's championship game.

"I just sat down on the post and my guards were looking for me," Davenport said. "I just wanted to make as many shots as I could and just try to win the game."

Drawing fouls along the way, Davenport had no problem backing up Penn State's senior forwards Charity Renfro and Amanda Brown.

"She's a great player," Brown said of Davenport.

"She's just a very physical player, she's very strong and tall and she can shoot over just about anybody."

Davenport, who recently became the first player named Big Ten Player of the Year for three-consecutive seasons, put on a school of versatility last night.

She could shoot over her right shoulder. She could shoot over her left shoulder. She could cut into the lane and hit the fade away. Or she could cut in a drive hard to the rim. More than a few times in the first half she also employed a bank-shot from the low block. And she used her long arms to snag everything off the glass.

She may have brought pieces of the great performances of yore.

According to Ohio State head coach Jim Foster, Davenport has watched a tape of former UCLA center Bill Walton's famous 21-for-22 performance in the 1973 NCAA championship.

He then paused for a minute.

"Somebody's going to be showing a tape of her soon," he said.