Balanced scoring leads No. 23 ranked Women's Basketball past Muskingum 69-60

By Ashley Birchmeier

NEW CONCORD — The No. 23 ranked women's basketball team used balanced scoring to defeat Muskingum 69-60 Saturday afternoon at the Muskingum Recreation Center.

The Polar Bears improve to 7-2 overall, 4-0 Ohio Athletic Conference, while Muskingum falls to 1-6, 0-4.

Northern was led in the contest by Junior Britt Lauck with a team-high 11 points.

Senior Karissa Steffas and sophomore Courtney Cramer both chipped in nine points a piece, while seniors Carly Thomas and Brooke Espenschied added eight points a piece for the Polar Bears.

Northern jumped to an early lead as a three pointer from Cramer with 3:54 to play in the first quarter would put Northern on top 14-4.

Muskingum would finish the quarter on a 6-3 run to cut the ONU lead to 17-10.

The Polar Bears opened the second half with an 11-0 run capped off by a layup from Lauck to extend the ONU lead to 28-10.

With 1:59 to play till the break, Cramer would make another three to push the ONU advatnage to 36-16.

The Fighting Muskies would hit a three of their own in the final minute of action to cut the ONU lead to 39-19 at the break.

Muskingum battled in the second half as they were able to cut the ONU lead late in the fourth quarter to 60-46 following a pair of free throws from Jasmine Goings.

However, the Polar Bears were to much as they were able to withstand the Muskingum threat and hang on to win 69-60.

Muskingum was led in the contest by Goings with a game-high 13 points.

Northern returns to action Dec. 30 when they host Case Western Reserve, tip-off set for 7:30 pm.