Sara Kocian scores a career-high 15 points to lead Women's Basketball past Mount Union 60-45

By Tim Glon

ALLIANCE — Senior Sara Kocian scored a career-high 15 points to lead the Ohio Northern women's basketball team to a 60-45 victory at Mount Union on Saturday afternoon at the MAAC.

The Polar Bears improve to 10-3 overall and draw even in the Ohio Athletic Conference with a 3-3 record, while the Purple Raiders fall to 7-6, 1-5.

Junior Jordan Kimes also scored in double figures for ONU with 11 points, while pulling down eight rebounds.

Ohio Northern's defense was outstanding, limiting MtU to just 16-of-51 shooting from the floor for 31.4 percent, including a 5-for-20 effort from 3-point range for 25.0 percent.

The Polar Bears also dominated the rebounding battle 43-28, led by a game and career-high nine rebounds from sophomore Brooke Espenschied.

MtU was led by Olivia Holt with nine points.

Leading 50-45 with 3:05 remaining, Northern scored the final 10 points to put the game away.

Sophomore Carly Thomas hit a jumper with 2:24 left to put ONU up 52-45, then junior Becca Saine nailed six consecutive free throws to extend the lead to 58-45.

Kocian scored with seven seconds left to ice the contest.

MtU came out hot, racing to a quick 12-4 lead in the first 4:58.

But the Polar Bears battled back and used an 8-0 run to take the lead for good at 23-19 with 1:12 left in the first half.

ONU was 21-of-53 from the floor for 39.6 percent and made 14-of-18 free throws for 77.8 percent.

The Polar Bears will return home for a pair of OAC contests next week, Hosting Heidelberg on Wednesday and Capital on Saturday at the ONU Sports Center.