By Tim Glon
www.onusports.com
No. 16-ranked Ohio Northern saw its NCAA III Women's Basketball Tournament run end in the third round on Friday night, March 10, with a 67-43 loss at No. 2 Transylvania (Ky.) at the Beck Center.
The Polar Bears end their season with a 25-5 record, while the Pioneers (30-0) advanced to the Sectional finals to play No. 6 New York U. on Saturday night. (Transy beat NYU 79-63).
"I am so proud of what our team has accomplished," ONU head coach Mark Huelsman said. "We accomplished so much for our campus community this year. The team put us back on the map at a national level in Division III. We had an impact on this campus that would not have happened without our tournament run."
Transy made five first quarter three-pointers en route to a 23-11 lead after 10 minutes of play.
TU then opened the second period on an 11-2 run to go up 34-13 with 7:37 left in the half.
Northern went on a 9-0 run, capped by a three from senior Brynn Serbin (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Allegheny), to claw back within 38-27 with 1:39 left in the period. But the hosts would score the final five points of the half to lead 43-27 at intermission.
The Pioneers would then score the first 12 points of the third period to cap a 17-0 run and extend their lead to 55-27 with 4:11 left in the third quarter.
Sophomore Brooke Allen (Woodville/Woodmore) scored 15 points, junior Kristen Luersman (Fort Jennings) had seven points and 11 rebounds and Serbin grabbed 10 rebounds for ONU.
Laken Ball led four Transylvania players in double figures in scoring with 16 points.
Ohio Northern made 17-of-57 field goals for 29.8 percent and was 3-of-15 from beyond the arc for 20 percent, while Transylvania was 23-of-64 from the floor for 35.9 percent and made 9-of-35 3-pointers for 25.7 percent.
ONU hade 6-of-10 free throws for 72.2 percent and TU was 12-of-14 from the line for 85.7 percent.
The Polar Bears out-rebounded the Pioneers 45-38.
The Transy full court pressure forced Ohio Northern into 20 turnovers, while Transylvania only committed 10.
This was the fourth time in school history that the ONU women's basketball team made the Sweet 16 of the NCAA III Tournament.
