WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – Freshman Tatum Forbes scored a team-high 17 points while sophomore Ta'Nya Outten finished with a career-high 14 points as the Hartford women's basketball team dropped a 76-59 decision against Chicago State Saturday. The Hawks fall to 0-20 on the season, while the Cougars improve to 2-21 on the year.
 
CHICAGO STATE 76, HARTFORD 59
Hartford wasted little time getting the offense going, as Forbes drilled a three from the corner before Outten converted on a layup down low to give the Hawks an early 5-0 lead. Chicago State would respond with a 4-0 run of its own to close the gap to 5-4. Throughout the remainder of the first, both sides would go back-and-forth as the Cougars took a 16-14 lead into the opening break. 
 
Opening up the quarter on a 6-1 run, the Hawks would regain their lead from the first at 20-19 with 8:26 remaining in the half. However, Chicago State would immediately respond with a 5-0 run of its own capped off by an and-one play from Janiah Newell. The Hawks would keep the game within striking distance, taking a 38-34 deficit heading into the halftime break.  
 
Coming out into the second half, both sides would trade baskets up-and-down the floor, playing to a 49-42 game with 5:11 remaining in the third. The Cougars utilized an 11-3 run over the final five minutes of the third to take a 58-45 lead into the fourth. Chicago State's lead proved to be too much for the Hawks to overcome, though, as it fell by a final score of 76-59.
 
INSIDE THE BOX & NOTES

• Forbes tied for a game high in scoring with 17 points, adding a career-high six assists
• Outten scored a career-high 14 points on 7-of-12 shooting from the floor
• Junior Lanae Johnson-Kleinpeter finished with a career-high eight points off the bench
• Chicago State outrebounded Hartford 54-31
• The Hawks committed just 11 turnovers and forced 25 on the game

NEXT ON TAP
Hartford returns to the court on tomorrow to close out the two-game weekend series against Chicago State.