Dec. 1, 2007

By Tim Glon

ADA — Erin Brand scored a season-high 24 points and tied a season high with seven rebounds as the Ohio Northern women’s basketball team opened the Ohio Athletic Conference portion of its schedule with an impressive 87-46 victory at Marietta Saturday afternoon at Ban Johnson Arena.

The Polar Bears improve to 4-1 overall and are 1-0 in OAC play, while the Pioneers fall to 2-4, 0-1.

Emily Culbertson scored 14 points and Jenny Markle added 11 points for ONU.

Northern scored the game’s first seven points and led 18-5 with 5:40 gone in the contest.

The Polar Bears shot a blistering 84.2 percent (16-of-19) from the floor in the second half and finished the game 33-for-48 for 68.8 percent.

Northern opened the second half on a 19-5 run to extend its lead to 62-26 with 13:36 left in the game.

A basket by Markle put ONU up 73-32 with 10:45 to play and the Pioneers would not get closer than 38 points the rest of the way.

Brand’s 24 points came on 11-of-13 shooting from the floor and 2-for-2 from the line.

ONU was 10-of-15 from three-point range for 66.7 percent and made 11-of-14 free throws for 78.6 percent.

Marietta made just 19-of-48 passes for 39.6 percent.

Northern out-rebounded the Pioneers 28-20.

Marietta was led by Justine Pagenhardt with 17 points and Amanda Carraher with 12 points.

The Polar Bears return home to face Heidelberg on Wednesday at 7:30 pm at the ONU Sports Center.