The Associated Press

COLUMBUS - On one of her worst ballhandling nights, Amber Jacobs did just about everything else well enough to win the game.

Boston College players celebrate their win over Ohio State Monday. (AP photo)

Jacobs scored 17 points and Boston College held Ohio State scoreless for eight minutes of the second half Monday night in a 63-48 victory in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

The third-seeded Eagles (27-6) advanced to play either Minnesota or Kansas State in the Mideast Regional semifinals Sunday in Norfolk, Va.

Jacobs hit 5-of-7 shots from the field, including 3-of-4 3-pointers, and all four free throws. She also had five assists and four rebounds.

Jacobs also had eight turnovers - continually flirting with disaster on the court when her pocket was picked for easy layups at the other end. It didn't shake her.

"I turned it over, OK?" she said. "So now we're going to get it back again. That's the mindset that coach has been trying to implant into our heads, even from the beginning of the season. That shows a mature team right there."

Even though she was far from perfect, it all worked out fine for the Eagles.

"Turnovers are turnovers, but in the end we came out with the win," Jacobs said, grinning.

Ohio State coach Jim Foster gushed about Jacobs' toughness.

"Amber Jacobs, on a night that could have been very, very frustrating with eight turnovers, she never let it affect her composure to run the offense and execute the offense," Foster said.

"The mental toughness of that kid impresses me. Every player can play well when things are going well, but even when she was getting (the ball) stripped like she was, she still had the wherewithal to do her job and to keep her team focused."

Kathrin Ress added 16 points and Jessalyn Deveny had 15 for the Eagles, who reached the round of 16 for the second straight year.

Brandie Hoskins led the sixth-seeded Buckeyes (21-10) with 16 points, and Caity Matter had 10.

After eight lead changes and six ties, the Eagles slowly pulled away midway through the second half.

Ohio State, playing on its own campus, had beaten West Virginia 73-67 in Saturday's opening round by pounding the ball inside to 6-foot-5 Jessica Davenport (22 points) and 6-3 LaToya Turner (10 points, 11 rebounds).

But Boston College all but eliminated the Buckeyes' inside game, overplaying Davenport underneath and whenever she received a pass.