Box Score ALLIANCE, Ohio – The Mount Union women's basketball team (1-4) captured their first win of the season as they took down the Otterbein University Cardinals (3-2) 86-76 in an Ohio Athletic Conference home-and-home series Friday night at the McPherson Academic and Athletic Complex.
The Purple Raiders were led by senior duo Brianna Gassman (Minerva) who matched her career-high 17 points and six rebounds and Elena Rauhe (Seven Hills / Padua Franciscan) who came up with 18 points and six rebounds. Sophomore Emma Cannon (Dalton) rounded out the offense with her second double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds on the night.
Otterbein was led by Bryn Mangold who had a double-double of her own with 14 points and 11 rebounds.
Mount Union had a slow start in the first quarter but the Purple Raiders bounced back as sophomore Kelsie Glass (Green) hit two three-pointers to cut the deficit to 6. The 1st quarter ended with Mount Union down nine at 27-18. The Purple Raiders went on a seven-point scoring run in the first quarter which was their largest of the half. Mount Union kept close in the second quarter by holding Otterbein to 20-18 in those 10 minutes. Free-throws by Cannon brought the smallest deficit of nine with 0:35 remaining in the quarter. The Purple Raiders went into the locker room down 11 at 47-36.
Raiders took advantage of the break and came out hot in the second half. Gassman went on a solo 11 point run to bring the Raiders down two 49-47 with 6:50 remaining in the quarter. The Purple Raiders continued their rally through the quarter to end it 60-54. A three-point shot from the corner by junior Corenna Maynard (Chagrin Falls / Kenston) brought the Raiders within two at 64-62 with 7:08 remaining in the game. Rauhe then makes a layup to tie the game 64-64 with 6:18 remaining and forces a Cardinals timeout. Maynard then answers again by securing the first lead of the night off a layup thanks to Gassman and also gets the and one to bring the lead to 67-64. Purple Raiders take advantage of rebounds shutting down the Cardinals in the remaining five minutes to secure their first victory of the season with a final score of 86-76.
The Purple Raiders continue their home-and-home series with the Cardinals tomorrow, Saturday, Feb. 6, down in Westerville, Ohio at 6 PM.
