MARIETTA, Ohio—The Mount Union women's basketball team fell on the road at Marietta 86-78 Wednesday night in Ohio Athletic Conference play.
The Purple Raiders (13-6, 5-5 OAC) were led by
Reese Triplett (New Philadelphia / Tuscarawas Central Catholic) with a career-high 19 points connecting on three three-pointers.
Elizabeth Mason (Alliance / Marlington) and Makayla Dunkle (Cadiz / Harrison Central) finished with 12 points while Chelesa Evanich (Alliance / Marlington) finished with 11 points.
Marietta (10-9, 5-5 OAC) was led by Emma Rasmussen with 19 points
Marietta jumped out to a quick 8-4 lead over Mount Union. A driving layup from Triplett closed the lead to 8-6 but Marietta responded with a 10-0 run. Mount Union then responded with 10-2 run as four different Raiders cored to close within four. Marietta pushed the lead back out to eight but a 7-3 run, Triplett scored five points in the run, got Mount Union within four at the end of the quarter.
A back-and-forth battle started the second quarter as Mount Union trailed 32-25 but a 5-0 run from Triplett got Mount Union within two. Marietta kept the lead over the final five minutes extending the lead out to nine at the end of the quarter, taking a 47-38 lead.
Mount Union came out of the halftime break on a 7-2 run trailing 49-45 just two minutes into the third quarter. Marietta then pushed the lead back out to nine with 6:44 remaining. A 9-2 run for Mount Union saw three different Raiders score trailing by just two. Once again Marietta grabbed a lead of eight but over the final three minutes Mount Union outscored Marietta 9-0 taking a 67-66 lead into the fourth quarter.
Mount Union kept its lead four minutes into the fourth quarter as
Kayla Ferancy (Amherst / Amherst Steele) made a jumper to keep a two point lead. Marietta pushed back to the lead with four free throws and a jumper leading 77-73. A battle of free throws over the final two minutes as Marietta stayed ahead of the Raiders taking the victory.
Mount Union will remain on the road on Saturday taking on Otterbein in Westerville, Ohio at 3 pm in OAC play.
