BY CALEB SCOTT
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Senior Britt Lauck (Lima/Shawnee) scored a game high 17 points as she led the No. 17-ranked Ohio Northern women's basketball team to a 60-36 victory over Castleton (Vt.) on the first day of the Music City Classic held in Nashville, Tenn.
The Polar Bears remain perfect on the season and move to 10-0, while the Spartans fall to 6-3.
Lauck scored 17 points, while shooting 5-of-6 from the 3-point line and added two rebounds and two assists to lead the Polar Bears offensively.
Junior Amy Bullimore (Morrow/Little Miami) chipped in 11 points and pulled down four rebounds.
Senior Amauria Campbell (Cincinnati/Summit Country Day) and sophomore Jenna Dirksen (Beavercreek/Carroll) each grabbed a team-best five rebounds.
Each team got out to a slow start as Northern held a 6-2 lead after one quarter, behind two three pointers from Lauck.
The Polar Bears found their stride in the second quarter, as they outscored the Spartans 20-5 to take a 26-7 lead into the intermission.
Northern used a quick 7-0 spurt behind a 3-pointer from Lauck and four points from Campbell to open the third quarter and take a 33-7 lead with 7:14 left in the third quarter.
After Castleton pulled within 35-16, Northern would close the quarter on a 14-2 run as a three pointer from Dirksen with 28 seconds left in the quarter gave Northern its biggest lead of the afternoon and pushed the lead to 49-18 after three periods.
The Spartans would not get any closer than 23 points in the fourth quarter as the ONU defense proved to be too much and Northern went on to win the contest.
The Polar Bear defense forced 15 turnovers and took advantage with 24 points off of turnovers.
Northern shot 22-of-47 (46.8 percent) from the field, including 8-of-21 (38.1 percent) from the 3-point line.
ONU edged Castleton on the boards 33-30.
The Polar Bears return to action Friday afternoon as they take on Westfield State (Mass.) at Cumberland University at 4 pm in the second day of the Music City Classic.
