UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, Ohio—Senior
Elizabeth Mason (Alliance / Marlington) became the 17
th Mount Union women's basketball player to achieve 1,000 career points enroute to a 61-55 victory over Calvin Friday night to open the 2026-27 season.
Head coach Emily Taylor earned her first career head coaching victory in the win over Calvin who was receiving votes in the top 25 coaches poll.
The Purple Raiders (1-0) were led by Mason who scored 23 points while adding six assists and five rebounds.
Junior Chelesa Evanich (Alliance / Marlington) picked up a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds while junior
Kayla Ferancy (Amherst / Amherst Steele) picked up 16 points connecting on four three pointers.
Calvin (0-1) was led by RyAnn Rohrer with 12 points and Lily Nitz with 11 points.
Mount Union got the first bucket of the season on a layup from Mason. Calvin quickly grabbed the lead, jumping out to a 9-4 score. For the final three minutes Mount Union couldn't close the lead as Calvin took a 16-9 lead into the first break.
Ferancy got the scoring going in the second with a three to close within four, but Calvin would extend its lead out to 20-12 with 4:34 remaining in the quarter. Mason got her 1,000
th career point on an and-one with 4:20 remaining which started a 9-0 run which saw Mason get seven points in the run taking a 21-20 lead. Mount Union held the lead going into the halftime break leading 25-24.
Calvin out of the halftime used a 7-0 run to jump back ahead leading 31-25. Calvin then pushed the lead out to 35-27. Mount Union then made an 11-2 run which saw two three-pointers from Ferancy ignite the run taking a 38-37 lead. Calvin regained the lead but two free throws from junior
Lily Scott (Youngstown / Ursuline) tied the game up at the end of the third quarter at 40.
In the first 2:30 of the final quarter both teams kept it close as Mount Union held a one-point lead. Over the next 2:30 Mount Union outscored Calvin 11-1 as Ferancy, Evanich and Mason all scored in the run taking a 55-46 lead. Calvin closed within five with 1:18 remaining but Mount Union held off any comeback as Evanich sank four free throws over the final eight seconds.
Mount Union will now take on the hosts in No. 15/22 John Carroll on Sunday in University Heights at 12 pm.
