The Ohio Northern women's basketball team ran its winning streak to five games with a 70-63 victory at Mount Union on Saturday afternoon at the McPherson Athletic Center.
The Polar Bears (15-4 overall, 9-3 Ohio Athletic Conference) were led by seniors Emily Mescher (Maria Stein/Marion Local) and Abby Weeks (West Chester/Mount Notre Dame) with 14 points each and sophomore Jaidyn Hale (Lima/Bath) with 12 points.
The Purple Raiders (10-9, 4-8) had four players in double figures in scoring, led by Elena Rauhe with 13 points.
Ohio Northern ended the first period on a 14-3 run to lead 18-10 after 10 minutes of play.
MtU pulled within 28-26 by halftime and led 37-33 with 2:17 gone in the third quarter.
Neither team would lead by more than three points until a 7-0 run gave ONU a 50-45 lead after the third period.
The lead would bounce between two and five points until a basket by sophomore Sydney Ward (Columbus/Upper Arlington) put ONU ahead 60-53 with 5:17 remaining.
Mount Union got within 60-57, but four free throws by Weeks pushed the advantage back to 66-59 with 3:04 to go.
Weeks made two more free throws with 25 seconds left to make it 68-61 with 25 seconds left and freshman Brynn Serbin (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Allegheny) hit two more free ones with 20 second left to make it 70-69.
Northern made 24 of 55 field goals for 43.6% and made 7 of 23 3-pointers for 30.4%. MtU was 21 of 59 from the floor for 35.6% and was 14 of 35 from beyond the arc for 40.0%.
ONU out-rebounded MtU 40-29 behind a balanced effort that saw all 11 players with at least one rebound.
The Polar Bears will return to action Wednesday night when they host No. 12-ranked Baldwin Wallace on Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the ONU Sports Center.
Men’s game
Freshman C.J. Napier (Miamisburg/Bishop Fenwick) scored 18 points, but No. 20-ranked Mount Union pulled away late to down Ohio Northern 75-63 in an Ohio Athletic Conference men's basketball game on Saturday afternoon at the ONU Sports Center.
The Polar Bears (6-13 overall, 2-10 OAC) also got 11 points from sophomore Brandon Waugh(Columbus/Northland).
The Purple Raiders (16-3, 11-1) had four players in double figures in scoring, led by Collen Gurley with 21 and Nathan Bower-Malone with 20.
Trailing 47-36 early in the second half, Ohio Northern rallied to tie the game at 55-all with 6:54 to play on a 3-point play by senior Caleb Bryan (Pittsburgh, Pa./Montour).
But Mount Union scored the game's next eight points to take a 63-55 advantage with 4:09 left and held on for the win.
ONU finished the game 25-of-61 from the floor for 41.0% and was 3-of-16 from three-point range for 18.8%. MtU was 30-of-60 from the field for 47.6% and was 5-of-23 from three for 21.7%.
Mount Union out-rebounded Ohio Northern 45-30.
The Polar Bears will take to the road on Saturday with a 3 p.m. contest at No. 12 Marietta.
