ALLIANCE, Ohio—The Mount Union women's basketball team erased an eight point deficit using a 51-33 second half to take down Otterbein 79-69 in Ohio Athletic Conference play and ending a five-game skid Saturday afternoon in the McPherson Academic and Athletic Complex.
Mount Union dedicated the game to fighting Lymphoma as former Purple Raider Fallon Schwab-Davis was recently diagnosed with Lymphoma.
The Purple Raiders (6-7, 3-3 OAC) were led by a double-double performance from freshman
Elizabeth Mason (Alliance / Marlington) with 19 points and tied her career-high with 13 rebounds.
Junior
Dae Dae Nash (Akron / Buchtel) finished with a season-high 17 points while
Ali Hudik (Mentor / Lake Catholic) scored 16 points. Nash shot 3 of 5 while Hudik was 4 of 6 from three.
Otterbein (4-9, 2-4 OAC) was led by Kyla Irby with 16 points while Katie McCrary finished with a double-double of 11 points and 11 assists.
FIRST QUARTER
Mount Union got off to a hot start with Nash connecting on a three and Mason finishing a driving layup to take a 5-0 lead. Otterbein tied the game up at five but a Hudik three pushed the lead to three. Otterbein finished the quarter on a 15-6 run to take a 20-14 lead.
SECOND QUARTER
Otterbein came out the break on an 11-1 run to take a 31-15 lead with 6:03 left in the quarter. Mount Union got a free throw from junior
Hailey Haywood (Barberton) and a three from Mason and Nash to get within nine at 31-22. Both teams battled throughout the remaining of the quarter as Otterbein led 36-28.
THIRD QUARTER
Mount Union came out firing with a jumper and three from Mason as well as a Nash three to get within three at 41-38. Otterbein pushed the lead back out to nine with 2:59 left in the quarter but a 9-0 run to finish the quarter as Mason scored four points, freshman
Reese Triplettt (New Philadelphia / Tuscarawas Central Catholic) scored three and freshman
Tess Conroy (Valley View / Cuyahoga Heights) scored a bucket to tie the game up at 51.
FOURTH QUARTER
A back and forth start to the quarter saw two Hudik threes along with a jumper from Triplett pushed the Raider lead out to 59-55. Otterbein closed to within two but a three from Conroy and a jumper from Hudik pushed the lead out to seven with 5:49 to play. Otterbein got within three twice in the final three minutes but a three from Hudik and a layup pushed the lead out to seven once again. Nash and Mason each connected on two free throws to ice the game taking the victory.
Mount Union will remain home taking on John Carroll on Wednesday, January 10th with a 7 PM tip off.
