Women's Basketball drops 85-71 decision at No. 16 Mount Union in battle of league leaders

By: Tim Glon

ALLIANCE — The Ohio Northern women's basketball team jumped out to a quick 11-point lead, but No. 16-ranked Mount Union rallied for an 85-71 Ohio Athletic Conference victory Saturday afternoon in a battle of league leaders at the MAAC.

The Polar Bears fall out of first place in the OAC with the loss and are now 11-3 overall and 5-2 in league play, while the Purple Raiders move into first place at 5-1 in OAC play and are 12-1 overall.

Junior Morgan Dumbaugh scored a team-high 17 points to lead ONU.

Senior Kara Dysert scored 15 points and added a game-high seven rebounds, sophomore Cenzie Yoder scored 12 points and junior Joanna Snyder added 12 points for Ohio Northern.

Mount Union was led by Kori Wendt with a game-high 26 points and Rosa LaMattine with 25 points.

The Polar Bears used a 12-0 run to take a 20-9 just 6:01 into the contest.

MtU went on a pair of 7-0 runs to even the gfame at 33-33 with six minutes left.

The hosts scored the final four points of the first half end eventually led 44-42 at intermission, then scored the first nine points of the second half to complete a 13-0 run and take a 53-42 lead with 17:25 left in the game.

Two free throws by junior Marissa Clark capped a 12-2 Polar Bear run tied the game at 57-all with 11:11 remaining to play.

A 6-0 run gave Mount Union a 71-63 lead with 5:45 to play, and a 10-2 run extended the lead to 81-67 with 1:58 left in the game.

ONU made good on 29-of-52 field goal attempts for 55.8 percent, while MtU made 34-of-69 field goal attempts for 49.3 percent.

Northern out-rebounded Mount Union 27-25, but committed 21 turnovers to just nine for the Purple Raiders.

The Polar Bears will return to action Wednesday when they play host to Wilmington at 7:30 pm at the ONU Sports Center.