NEW WILMINGTON, Pa.—The Mount Union women's basketball team defeated Manchester (Ind.) 77-69 Saturday afternoon to advance to the championships game to take on the host Westminster (Pa.)
 
The Purple Raiders (2-0) were led by Gretchen Koken (Harmony, Pa. / Seneca Valley) finishing with a double-double and career highs in points and rebounds with 23 and 13.
 
Mount Union got double digit scoring from freshman Bailey Shutsa (Wadsworth / Norton) and Emma Cannon (Dalton) who scored 15 and 14 respectively.
 
Manchester (0-1) was led by Aly Graber who picked up 14 points and seven rebounds and Bridget Nash scoring 13 points.
 
The game featured 10 different lead changes as well as the score being tied six different times. Mount Union led 17-13 after one quarter of play and 31-27 at the half. The Raiders used a 22-17 third quarter push to get the lead out to nine with a lead of 53-44. Mount Union hung on in the fourth as Manchester outscored them 25-24 but the Raiders held on to a 77-69 victory.
 
Mount Union returns to play on Sunday, Nov. 13 at 3 p.m. as they take on the host Westminster (Pa.) in the championships game.