Kristen Luersman’s career-high 14 points leads Women’s Basketball over St. Mary’s (Ind.)

By Wes Mayberry

| Bluffton Holiday Tournament website |

BLUFFTON — The Ohio Northern women's basketball team outscored St. Mary's (Ind.) 22-7 in the first quarter Wednesday afternoon en route to a 56-26 victory at the Bluffton Holiday Tournament at the Sommer Center on the campus of Bluffton University.

Sophomore Kristen Luersman (Fort Jennings) led the way for the Polar Bears (8-2 overall), scoring a career-high 14 points to go with five rebounds in what was ONU's fourth straight win.

Junior Brynn Serbin (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Allegheny) also scored in double figures, posting 10 points to go with five rebounds, five assists and three steals.

Sophomore Kasey Knippen (Ottoville) finished with six points and three steals while freshman Abby Dickson (Germantown/Valley View) tallied a team-high eight rebounds along with five points.

Senior Alissa Stahler (Lima/Shawnee) added five points and six rebounds.

The Belles (2-10 overall) were led by Devan Buda, who scored seven points off the bench.

St. Mary's opened up a 5-1 lead to start Wednesday's game, but a 3-pointer from Luersman kickstarted a 21-2 run over the final 7:23 of the first quarter to put the Polar Bears in control.

Knippen closed the opening period with a 3-pointer with two seconds left for the 15-point edge going into the second quarter.

Northern was held to just 10 points in the second frame but continued its stifling defensive play in limiting St. Mary's to three points to take a 32-10 edge into the halftime break.

Luersman led the way with 14 first-half points while the ONU defense held the Belles to just four field goals and 16.7% shooting over the first two quarters.

The Polar Bears led 39-22 going into the fourth quarter en route to the 30-point victory.

Ohio Northern made 22-of-65 field goals for 33.8% and was 4-of-19 from 3-point range for 21.1%, while the Belles made 8-of-48 field goals for 16.7% and were 1-of-21 from beyond the arc for 4.8%.

The Polar Bears were 8-of-12 from the foul line for 66.7% while St. Mary's was 9-of-14 for 64.3%.

ONU out-rebounded St. Mary's by a 48-36 margin and forced 24 turnovers.

The Polar Bears return to the court on Thursday at noon to face Geneva (Pa.) for the second of their two games in the Bluffton Holiday Tournament.