"I had to make a tough call and I did it," Burns said. "It is now time to move forward. This is for the future of the program."

Burns declined to disclose details of the dismissal, adding only, "This is a team issue."

Moua is a 5-foot-11 forward and Ohio State's lone senior this season. The Vantaa, Finland, native started all 15 of the Buckeyes' games and was averaging a team-leading 10.7 points and 4.7 rebounds.

In the past two games, Moua was just 1-for-4 from the field. Her lone basket was the game-winning, buzzer-beater against Purdue, the defending NCAA champion.

The decision came as a surprise to the Buckeyes, let alone Moua, who said she thought she was reporting to a normal day of practice Tuesday when Burns called her into the office.

"I was going to practice like it was any other day," Moua told The Columbus Dispatch. "It was a total, complete shock.

"I don't want to say anything negative. I'm sad that it ended this way. I wish I could have played my senior year. I love my team and I feel like I let the team down."

Courtney Bale, a junior co-captain, also was shocked by the dismissal.

"I think it was a surprise to all of us," Bale said. "Losing anyone on your team hurts because we are used to being a unit. This will affect us, but we will pull together and be ready for Penn State."

Ohio State (9-6, 2-3 Big Ten) takes on No. 4 Penn State on Thursday.

"Our team is ready for Penn State," Burns said. "Going to Happy Valley is not easy, no matter when, where or how.

D'wan Shackleford, a 6-foot freshman center from Newark, Ohio, will replace Moua in the starting line-up. Shackleford is averaging 2.7 points and 1.9 rebounds.

Ohio State athletics director Andy Geiger and the associate AD who oversees the women's program, Miechelle Willis, both issued statements supporting Burns' decision.