Three Polar Bears score double-digits to lead Women's Basketball to first OAC win over Muskingum, 64-45

By: Ellen Keough

ADA -- The Ohio Northern women's basketball team picked up its first conference victory Saturday afternoon, defeating Muskingum 64-45 at home in the ONU Sports Center.

The Polar Bears improve to 4-1 overall and 1-0 in OAC competition. The Muskies fall to 3-2 overall this season and 1-1 in conference play.

Senior captain Jeanne Bockey led the ONU offense with 12 points.

Kara Dysert fell just short of her third double-double this season with 11 points and nine rebounds.  Junior Morgan Dumbaugh also got in on the scoring action, adding 11 points.

With 5:53 left in the first half and the game was tied 19-19, the Polar Bears came out of a time out to go on a 18-6 run, capped off by a 3-pointer by sophomore Morgan Dumbaugh.

At the break, the Polar Bears led 37-25.

ONU made 14-of-28 shots and sank five of its 10 3-point attempts in the first half for a 50 percent average in both categories.

The Polar Bears kept their double digit through the rest of the contest, starting the second half on an 8-0 run, ended by a made 3-pointer by sophomore point guard Katie Mengos at the 11:32 mark.

With six seconds left in the game, another 3-pointer by freshman Morgan Sperry solidified the Polar Bear win.

Megan Porter, Mengos and Dumbaugh led the team in assists with three each.  

Mengos also played well on the defensive side of the ball, finishing the game with four steals and two blocks.

Northern finished the game shooting 43.8 percent from the three-point line.

Junior Hannah Oakley led the Muskies with 15 points and four rebounds. Carissa Bosch and Amanda Dobbins followed up with 11 and 10 points, respectively.

"Today was a good team win, we had a lot of people contribute," coach Michele Durand said. "We have been playing well so far but we need to continue to get better."

The Polar Bears will be in action next Wednesday when they host Otterbein at 7:30 p.m. in the ONU Sports Center.