Box Score COLUMBUS, Ohio – After a slow offensive start during the first half, the North Carolina Central University women's basketball team was unable to close the gap, falling to the Ohio State Buckeyes 65-47 on Sunday, Dec. 29 in Columbus, Ohio at the Value City Arena.

A layup from junior Khyra Conerly (Oakland, Calif.) at the 18:08 mark put the Lady Eagles on the board for the first time, trailing the Buckeyes 4-2. OSU went on a 6-1 run during the next four minutes of the contest giving them a 10-3 lead.

With 8:11 left in the first half NCCU senior Tiffany Gary (Delray Beach, Fla.) knocked down 1-of-2 free throws setting the score at 19-12 before both teams were held scoreless until the Buckeye's Darryce Moore broke the scoring drought hitting a layup with 3:43 remaining on the first half clock.

OSU took its largest lead of 12 into the locker room at the break, leading the Lady Eagles 28-16.

The Lady Eagles and the Buckeyes exchanged baskets back-and-forth during the opening of the second half before OSU went on an 11-6 run giving the Buckeyes their biggest lead of the contest at 21.

During the second twenty minutes of action, NCCU tailed OSU by only six points giving up 37 Buckeye baskets compared to the Lady Eagles 31, as OSU took home the eighteen point victory, 65-47.

NCCU was led by Conerly's 12 points and nine boards.

As a team, the Lady Eagles shot 15-for-55 from the field, 1-for-11 from behind the arc and 16-for-24 from the charity stripe while pulling down 37 rebounds and collecting seven steals.  

NCCU returns to action on Thursday, Jan. 2 as the Lady Eagles host Bluefield State College in McDouald-McLendon Gymnasium at 4 p.m.