ALLIANCE, Ohio - The Mount Union women's basketball team dropped its Ohio Athletic Conference opener, 78-65, against John Carroll Wednesday night at the McPhearson Academic Athletic Complex.

The Purple Raiders (5-2, 0-1 OAC) were led by sophomore Hailey Peoples-O'Neil (Geneva) and junior Elena Rauhe (Seven Hills / Padua Franciscan) with 10 points each. Sophomore point guard Corenna Maynard (Chagrin Falls / Kenston) contributed with six assists and five steals. 

Nicole Heffington led the Blue Steaks (5-1, 1-0 OAC) with a game-high 24 points. 

Mount Union and John Carroll started the game trading baskets to tie the score at 4-4. Junior Sarah Hessel (Avon Lake) then hit a jump shot at the 8:11 mark to give the Raiders their only lead of the night 6-4. The Blue Streaks answered with a 14-6 run to lead 20-12. A Rauhe three-pointer then sparked a 6-0 surge to cut the John Carroll lead to two points but the Blue Streaks bounced back to keep the lead 24-20 at the end of the first quarter. 

In the second quarter, the Blue Streaks widened their lead outscoring Mount Union 31-12 to take a 23-point lead, 55-32, at halftime. 

The Raiders opened the third quarter with a three-point basket from junior Sarah Turley (Sagamore Hills / Nordonia) to ignite a 7-0 run which cut the deficit to 55-42. Mount Union only allowed John Carroll to score six points as the score was 61-48 after three quarters.

Back-to-back three-pointers from freshman Anika Sweeney (Sylvania / Sylvania Northview) brought the Raiders back to within 10 points to start the fourth quarter, 64-54. Mount Union continued to cut the deficit with another three-point basket from Turley at the 3:16 mark to close to within seven in 66-59, but John Carroll ended the game on a 12-6 for the 78-65 win.

The Purples Raiders are back in action Saturday, Dec. 7 at 3 p.m. as take on Ohio Northern in Ada.