In front of 2,304 fans last night at St. John Arena, the Ohio State women’s basketball team ended their preseason with a loss 60-75 against Athletes in Action.”We knew going into the game that our defense was going to be tested,” Burns said. And tested it was. Forward Stacy Johnson put Athletes in Action on the board first with a lay up just 5 seconds into the half. The Athletics dominated the majority of the first half led by Johnson with 12 points and 3 assists.”This was a starting point for us,” first-year head coach Beth Burns said. “We played better this week than Sunday and better Sunday than the week before. If we’re still saying that in March than we’re doing well.”Junior forward Marrita Porter was the leading scorer for the Lady Buckeyes in the first half with 13 points. With less than a minute left, Porter brought the Buckeyes within 9 points by sinking two at the line.Porter returned to jump start the second half with a three-pointer , bringing the Buckeyes within 6, the smallest point spread in the half.From that point on the Athletics took over dominating with 36 points, led once again by Johnson with 22 points. Junior forward Laresha Jones led the Buckeyes offensively with 36 total game points. “For me this wasn’t just an exhibition game, it was real, just like any other game,” Jones said. “We just went out there and did what we could.”Two of the Buckeye’s true-freshmen saw plenty of game time, guards Jamie Lewis and Mandy Stanhope, controlled OSU’s defensive game.”Athletics in Action was a tough team,” Burns said. “They’ve played three Big Ten teams in preseason, Michigan, Wisconsin and Penn State and beat all of them. I think that says a it.”The Lady Buckeyes leave their preseason behind them and host Houston Sunday afternoon at St John Arena at 2:00.