Balanced scoring effort leads Women’s Basketball to rout of Mount Union

By Wes Mayberry

ADA — The Ohio Northern women's basketball team has used its balanced scoring attack to much success this season. Saturday afternoon was no different, as five players scored between six and 10 points to lead the Polar Bears to a 59-35 win over Ohio Athletic Conference foe Mount Union at the ONU Sports Center.

"This was a great team win for us," head coach Mark Huelsman said. "We played well on both ends of the floor and got great contributions from everybody. We're at our best when we have balanced scoring like we did today."

The Polar Bears (6-2 overall, 2-1 OAC) got 10 points each from senior Molly Palecek (Wadsworth) and sophomore Kristen Luersman (Fort Jennings) and eight points apiece from freshmen Layla Dials (Willard) and Brooke Allen (Woodville/Woodmore), all of whom came off the bench.

Senior Jaidyn Hale (Lima/Bath) was ONU's top-scoring starter with six points.

The Polar Bears got a team-high five rebounds from Hale, Allen, junior Brynn Serbin (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Allegheny) and freshman Abby Dickson (Germantown/Valley View).

Dickson and Luersman chipped in a game-high three assists.

Mount Union (2-5 overall, 1-3 OAC) was led by Isi Palamone, who finished with a game-high 11 points and eight rebounds.

Corenna Maynard chipped in eight points for the Purple Raiders.

The Polar Bears jumped out to 10-2 lead capped by a Luersman 3-pointer with 3:05 left in the first quarter.

Another Luersman triple, followed by a jumper from Allen, put ONU up 15-3, and the Polar Bears took a 16-3 edge into the second period.

A 3-pointer from senior Kate Iliff (Lorain/Steele) gave ONU a 26-10 lead with 5:02 left in the second quarter, and the Polar Bears took a 33-12 lead into halftime.

The Purple Raiders opened the second half on a 9-0 run before Luersman stopped ONU's scoring drought with a jumper to make the score 35-21 with 4:46 left in the third quarter.

ONU led by 20, 47-27, going into the fourth quarter en route to the 24-point victory.

Ohio Northern made 22-of-53 field goals for 41.5% and was 7-of-19 from 3-point range for 36.8%, while the Purple Raiders made 12-of-53 field goals for 22.6% and were 3-of-24 from beyond the arc for 12.5%.

The Polar Bears were 8-of-11 from the foul line for 72.7% while Mount Union was 8-of-13 for 61.5%.

ONU out-rebounded UMU by a 40-34 margin.

The Polar Bears outscored Mount Union 30-16 in the paint and 36-8 in bench points.

ONU returns to action on Saturday, Dec. 18, for a 2 p.m. game at Ohio Athletic Conference foe Capital.