COLUMBUS, Ohio- Western Michigan didn't back down from Big Ten opponent Ohio State, but the Buckeyes' star backcourt of Kelsey Mitchell and Ameryst Alston was too much to contain, leading their team to an 83-46 victory over the visiting Broncos Sunday at Value City Arena.

WMU went almost basket-for-basket with the Buckeyes over the first 15 minutes of the game and out-rebounded OSU in the first half, 22-14. The Broncos trailed 15-14 halfway through the period and by only three, 24-21, with 4:45 remaining in the first.

From there Mitchell hit another level, spurring a 15-1 Ohio State run that turned a three-point game into a 17-point halftime (39-22) deficit for the Broncos. Mitchell knocked down two three's, a pair of jumpers and converted two free throws to score 12 of Ohio State's 15 points in the run.

Mitchell entered the game as the Big Ten's leading scorer and ranked fourth in the nation averaging 25.0 ppg. She and Alston (21.6 ppg) combine to make the top backcourt in the country. Mitchell ended the day with 22 points, while Alston pumped in 21.

The Broncos' record falls to 4-3 and Ohio State improves to 7-4 on the season. All three of Western Michigan's losses have been on the road against formidable opponents.Two of the losses were against Big Ten foes - Ohio State and Michigan, and the third was against the No. 1 ranked mid-major program Green Bay.

After a quiet start to the season, Western Michigan junior forward Miracle Woods has reached her last season form. She scored a team-high 18 points to lead the Broncos and scored 16 points in each of the previous two games. Woods also grabbed seven rebounds and had three blocks and a steal against the Buckeyes.

Junior Jessica Jessing scored in double digits for the fifth time this season, finishing with 14 points and seven rebounds. Senior forward Marquisha Harris made her first appearance of the season, coming off the bench in the final minutes of the first half.

Ohio State had four players score in double figures and two players record double-digit rebounds. The Buckeyes shot 45.6 percent for the game and outscored Western Michigan by 20 in the second half. WMU shot 27.4 percent for the game.

After playing four of five games on the road, Western Michigan returns to Kalamazoo to host Trine on Dec. 18 at 7 p.m.. It is the second of only two home games for WMU in the month of December.

The Broncos then head back out for three more on the road, at in-state rival Detroit on Dec. 20 and for two games in New York at the Stony Brook Classic, facing host Stony Brook on Dec. 28 and Holy Cross on Dec. 29.