'Berg Suffers OAC Setback to Mount Union
The Heidelberg University women’s basketball team overcame a 20-point first-half deficit to out play Mount Union College in the second half, but could not hold on for an Ohio Athletic Conference victory. Despite being outscored in the second period, Mount Union posted a 74-70 victory.
The win improves Mount Union to 12-6 overall and 7-5 in the OAC, while the Berg stands at 5-14 and 2-10. 
Heidelberg scored first in the contest with a Stacey Richard (Galloway, Ohio / Central Crossing) jumper in the lane, but Mount Union’s Tessa Pohovey answered with a trey. Both teams traded baskets, and the lead, twice before Mount Union scored seven-straight points and went on to build an eventual 20-point advantage, 38-18, with 4:05 left in the first half. The Berg outscored the Purple Raiders 10-2 down the final stretch of the half and cut its deficit to 40-28 at the break.
Morgan Harrigan (Urbana, Ohio / Urbana) came out on fire for the Berg in the second half. Harrigan hit three from long range, while Richard added a jumper, in the fist three minutes to pull Heidelberg within six, 45-39.
Heidelberg’s Brittany Skolnicki (Lorain, Ohio / Clearview) and Stacey Barker (Grove City, Ohio / Grove City) hit back-to-back from lon
g range to give the Berg its first lead of the game, 48-47, since the 16:47 mark of the opening half.
Mount Union and Heidelberg battled back and forth through three ties and three lead changes before the Purple Raiders overtook the scoreboard for good at 51-50, with just over 11 minutes left in the contest. Mount Union extended its lead to double digits once again at 65-54, but Heidelberg did not go away.
Barker found Richard in the paint for an around and under lay up to knot the game at 70-70 with 28 second left. Mount Union’s Amanda Rose scored on the opposite end to regain the lead for the visitors with 14 seconds remaining. Heidelberg had a final possession, but was not able to convert and was forced to foul which sent the final score to 74-70.
For the game, Heidelberg shot 47.8 percent (27-of-57), while Mount Union hit a 42.1 percent (24-of-57) from the field. The difference in t
he contest was the trips to the free throw line. Mount Union took 21 shots from the charity stripe, hitting 18, including its first 14 in a row, while the Berg made it to the line just 13 times and connected on 10. On the glass, Mount Union held a 37-29 advantage.
Richard led all scorers with 23 points, while Skolnicki added 19 points, to go along with six assists, five steals, two rebounds and a block. Harrigan finished with her three from long range for nine points and added five boards. Jenny Miller (Tiffin, Ohio / Clyde) and Barker each contributed eight points. Barker dished out six assists and Miller set up four scores.
Pohovey led Mount Union with 18 points. Amanda Rose and Lauren Forquer each grabbed five rebounds apiece.