Columbus, OH ? The University of Hartford women's basketball team dropped a 63-45 decision to #20/21 Ohio State at the Value City Arena on Tuesday night. Hartford (3-2, 0-0 America East) was led by senior guard MaryLynne Schaefer who finished with a team-high 15 points. The Hawks continue a 10-day road trip at the George Washington Thanksgiving Classic against Liberty on Friday at 3:00 p.m.

Schaefer finished the game shooting 5-of-11 from the field as Hartford finished the game 17-of-58 combined (29 percent). Erica Beverly and Lisa Etienne finished with nine points, while Diana Delva added six. Delva led the team in rebounding with 10 boards, as the Hawks were outrebounded 40-33.

Hartford's only lead came after the first basket of the game, a layup from Beverly. The Buckeyes (4-1 overall, 0-0 Big Ten) took the lead right back with a Samantha Prahalis three pointer and then went on to open up a 15-7 lead connecting on their first six shots of the game. Hartford pulled within six on another Beverly layup, but Ohio State opened up its first double digit lead with a 9-0 run to go up 24-9 with 11:48 to play before the break.

The Hawks could only get the lead into single digits on two more occasion s, with 4:30 to play in the first half after a Delva jumper and again 21 second later on a Beverly jumper. The Buckeyes took a 15-point advantage into the locker room  the break after rattling off the final six points of the half and holding the Hawks scoreless in the final four minutes.

Ohio State came out of the break to score the first basket, but the Hawks picked up five straight  on a three-point play from Beverly and two Delva free throws to pull within 12. The Buckeyes answered back with a three pointer from Ashlee Trebilcock, and went on to open up its first 20 point lead at 50-30 with 11:53 to play.

Ohio State's largest lead came at 25 with 9:54 to play in the game. Hartford would get three three-pointers from Schaefer in the final four minutes, but it only allowed the Hawks to pull within 17 as the Buckeyes went on to win by an 18-point advantage.

Ohio State finished the game shooting 45 percent from the field (23-of-51) with Jantel Lavender leading the way with 22 points and 10 rebounds for the double double. Prahalis added 11 and Trebilcock finished with 10, while Star Allen leading the way with 12 rebounds.