Women's Basketball Falters at Mount Union

Three players scored in double figures for the Heidelberg College women’s basketball team, but it was not enough to propel the team to the victory column over host Mount Union College. Mount Union had 11 players score en route to an 84-65 Ohio Athletic Conference victory today, December 13. The win improves Mount Union to 5-1 overall and 2-0 in the OAC, while the Berg is 2-6 overall and 0-3 against league foes.
 
Heidelberg jumped out to a four-point lead 9-5 early on, but Mount Union responded with four-straight points to tie the game and went on to build an 11-point advantage, 22-11, with 10:45 to play in the first half. The Berg slowly chipped away at its deficit, pulling within two, 24-22, following a Stacey Barker (Grove City, Ohio / Grove City) trey at the 7:51 mark of the first period. Mount Union answered on its ensuing possession and went on a 12-4 run to enter the intermission with a 38-26 lead.
 
Mount Union and Heidelberg went back and forth early on in the second period and the Purple Raiders held a 43-30 lead with 17:32 left in the game. Heidelberg’s Morgan Harrigan (Urbana, Ohio / Urbana) connected on four of her five three-pointers on the day to pull the Berg within three points, 49-46, with just under 14 minutes remaining. Mount Union pulled ahead by eight before Harrigan hit another from long range followed by a Brittany Skolnicki (Lorain, Ohio / Clearview) jumper to cut Mount Union’s lead to three for the second time in the half.
 
However, Mount Union responded once again and went on to outscore the Berg 30-14 over the final 11:30 of the game for the win. Heidelberg’s shooting cooled off in the latter part of the second half to allow the Purple Raiders to build a large lead. Over the final 11 minutes of the game, the Berg hit just six of its 22 attempts from the field, while the Purple Raiders connected on nine of its 15 attempts to lead to the win.
 
For the game Heidelberg shot 35.3 percent (24-of-68) from the field, while Mount Union hit 54.1 percent of its attempts (33-of-61). Mount Union also held a 22 rebound advantage, 47-25.
 
Skolnicki came off the bench to lead the way for the Berg with 16 points, while Harrigan finished with 15 points, off of five treys. Stacey Richard (Galloway, Ohio / Central Crossing) chipped in with 10 points. Jenny Miller (Tiffin, Ohio / Clyde) and Sarah Kesse (Cincinnati, Ohio / Colerain) grabbed a team-leading five rebounds apiece.
 
Katie Crider finished with a game-high 20 points to lead Mount Union, while Tessa Pohovey added 12. Amanda Rose hauled in a game-high 10 boards.
 
Heidelberg has a week off before its hosts Marietta College December 20. Tip-off with the Pioneers is slated for 12:30 p.m.