Women's Basketball kicks off 2012 with 75-53 home victory over the Berg

ADA — The Ohio Northern women's basketball squad returned to conference action Wednesday night, posting a 75-53 win over Heidelberg at the ONU Sports Center.

With the win, Northern moves to 11-2 overall and 5-1 in the OAC, while the Berg fall to 3-9 overall and remain winless in the OAC at 0-5.

All but one Polar Bear participated in scoring, led by senior Kara Dysert's 10 points and a game-high nine rebounds. Senior Megan Porter, junior Joanna Snyder and sophomore Cenzie Yoder each contributed eight points.

For the second straight game, an opposing player scored at least 30 points against Northern, as Kathleen Phillips led all scorers in this contest with 30 points. Megan Miller followed her up with seven points.

Northern never trailed the entire contest, hitting an 18-2 run in the first half sparked by Porter 3-pointer at the 12:55 mark and topped off by two made foul shots by Yoder with 5:45 remaining.

ONU continued to cruise into halftime, taking a 34-15 lead at the break.

A Steph Hicks jumper at the 9:24 mark in the second half marked Northern's largest lead of the game putting the team up 31 points (59-28). The closet Heidelberg would get would be 19 points as the Polar Bears went on to the 75-53 victory.

The Polar Bears also had the edge in rebounding with 44 boards to the Berg's 32. Northern was also very generous with the ball, recording a season-high 24 assists, led by Katie Mengos' seven.

"Tonight was another team victory, with each of our players participating in some way tonight," head coach Michele Durand commented postgame. "It was great to get a conference win, as well as see Steph Hicks on the floor for the first time this season."

Ohio Northern hits the road Saturday for an OAC battle at Mount Union; tipoff is slated for 3 p.m.