ALLIANCE, Ohio- The Mount Union women's basketball team fell 71-58 to John Carroll in its Ohio Athletic Conference opener Wednesday night.
 
The Purple Raiders (3-3, 0-1 OAC) were led by Elizabeth Mason (Alliance / Marlington) with 15 points and eight rebounds.
 
Tess Conroy (  Valley View / Cuyahoga Heights), Abby Muckleroy (Canfield) and Reese Triplett (New Philadelphia / Tuscarawas Central Catholic) each connect on two threes for the Raiders and scored eight points each.
 
John Carroll (6-0, 1-0) was led by Ava Ryncarz with 16 points and 12 rebounds while Graci Semptimphelter scored 12 points.
 
John Carroll jumped out to a 22-1 lead with 2:31 remaining in the first quarter. Mount Union closed it to 24-7 as Muckleroy and Triplett each hit a three.
 
John Carroll once again pushed the lead out to 21 points but Mount Union got to within 10 on a driving layup from Triplett but a three from John Carroll pushed the lead out to 13 at the halftime break.
 
John Carroll pushed the lead out to 19 in the third quarter but once again Mount Union responded and got the lead down to 11 at the end of the quarter. In the final quarter Mount Union got within eight three times but couldn't close the score down anymore dropping the game.
 
Mount Union now will host Capital on Saturday at 1 PM part of a double header with the men following after.