The Lady Lions basketball team finished up its non-conference schedule at 9-3, defeating Hartford 70-56 Sunday afternoon at the Bryce Jordan Center.

Penn State struggled early on at the offensive end of the floor but behind the play of Ariel Edwards, the Lady Lions kept the Hawks at bay during those early minutes.

Edwards scored 9 of her team’s first 11 points and was effective with her drives to the basket, going 4-4 from the floor during that time and 3-3 from the free throw line.

Leading scorer Maggie Lucas struggled from the floor throughout the game, but during a critical two minute stretch, Lucas scored 6 straight and pushed her team to a comfortable 16 point lead. Lucas led all scorers with 18 points while Edwards added 15. With her 16th point of the game, Lucas became the 13th all-time leading scorer in Big Ten play moving past former Illinois great Ashley Bergeron.

On a side note, freshman Infinity Alston had requested and was granted a transfer by head coach Coquese Washintgon and will pursue her college career at another school.

The Lady Lions will return to action next Sunday when they begin Big Ten play at Iowa in a 3:00 start at Carver Hawkeye Arena. Its the first of two road games for Penn State. The Lady Lions will hit the road again to play Illinois the following Thursday.