WESTERVILLE, Ohio - Junior Elena Rauhe (Seven Hills / Padua Franciscan) had a game-high 21 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Mount Union women's basketball team to a 68-66 win at Otterbein in an Ohio Athletic Conference matchup Saturday at the Rike Center.

The win moves Mount Union to 12-9 overall and 6-8 in the OAC while Otterbein got 17 points from Abby Zerkle to fall to 11-10 overall and 6-8 in the OAC.

Freshman Madison Hensley (Blacklick / Gahanna Lincoln) opened the game hitting a three-pointer to spark 10-2 Raider run to gain an early advantage. The Cardinals would cut the the deficit to five, scoring three straight points, but Mount Union would extend its lead, 14-7, with four points from junior Brianna Gassman (Minerva). Both teams went basket for basket to end the first quarter, 24-17. 

Otterbein grabbed the first two points of the second quarter, but Rauhe quickly responded with two foul shots to keep the Raiders lead at seven points. Mount Union went on a 5-2 surge to take its largest lead of the game, 31-21. The Cardinals retaliated with a 13-0 run to take their first lead of the afternoon, 34-31 to head into halftime. 

Mount Union brought the score back within two points, 38-36, with a three-pointer from junior Sarah Turley (Sagamore Hills / Nordonia) at the 6:48 mark in the third quarter. Back-to-back triples from freshman Kelsie Glass (Green) and Gassman put the Raiders back on top for the first time in the second half, 42-40. The Raiders ended the quarter with an 8-5 surge, widening their advantage 50-45.

Otterbein rallied at the start of the fourth quarter to tie the score 54-54 with 5:48 remaining in regulation. Senior Hannah Schaefer (Dublin / Dublin Coffman) scored four unanswered points to regain the advantage for Mount Union, but the Cardinals would go on a 10-3 run of their own to put themselves back on top, 64-61, at the 1:28 mark. Rauhe led an 8-2 surge to put the Raiders up by two to secure the 68-66. 

Mount Union continues OAC play hosting Marietta Wednesday, Feb. 12 at 7 p.m. in Alliance.