Senior Britt Lauck leads No. 23 Women's Basketball in 82-58 victory over Defiance

By Caleb Scott

ADA — Senior Britt Lauck (Lima/Shawnee) poured in a team-high 20 points and added a career-best eight assists as the No. 23-ranked Ohio Northern defeated Defiance 82-58 Tuesday evening at the ONU Sports Center.

The Polar Bears improve to 4-0 overall, while the Yellow Jackets fall to 1-2.

Lauck also added two steals and two rebounds for Northern.

Junior Amy Bullimore (Morrow/Little Miami) scored 14 points and grabbed five rebounds and three steals for Northern.

Junior Courtney Cramer (Arcadia/Arcadia) and freshman Emily Mescher (Maria Stein/Marion Local) added 10 point each, while senior Amauria Campbell (Cincinnati/Summit Country Day) pulled down a team-best and career-best nine rebounds.

After falling behind 3-2 early in the first quarter, the Polar Bears would answer with an 8-0 run fueled by back-to-back 3-pointers from Lauck and Cramer to take a 10-3 lead with 8:13 remaining in the first quarter.

Northern would gain its biggest advantage of the first quarter as a layup from Mescher with 2:47 left gave ONU a 26-13 lead.

A jumper from Campbell with 4:32 remaining in the second quarter would give Northern its biggest lead of the half at 41-25.

Defiance was able to use a quick 7-0 run to begin the third quarter to pull within 45-39, before a 3-pointer from sophomore Jenna Dirksen (Beavercreek/Carroll) sparked a 6-0 run to push the lead to 51-39 6:56 remaining in the third quarter.

Northern would go on to win after a dominating fourth quarter to seal the 82-58 victory.

ONU shot 33-of-71 (46.5 percent) from the field, while the Yellow Jackets were 21-of-64 (32.8 percent) from the field.

Senior Kelsey Tietje led the Yellow Jackets with a game-high 23 points and 12 rebounds.

Northern will return to action Wednesday, Nov. 30 as they welcome Ohio Wesleyan to the ONU Sports Center at 7:30 pm.