By: Ryan Sosic '19

BEREA, Ohio- Junior Academic All-Ohio Athletic Conference guard Kasey Hughes (Springboro) had a career night as the 20th-nationally ranked Baldwin Wallace University women's basketball team defeated the University of Mount Union 67-50 inside Ursprung Gymnasium.

Hughes scored a career-best and game-high 25 points to lead the Yellow Jackets (10-1, 4-0 OAC). Junior Academic All-OAC guard Kara Marshall (Copley/Archbishop Hoban) registered 17 points and junior Academic All-OAC forward Mary Schentur (Broadview Hts./Brecksville-Broadview Hts.) reeled in career-high and game-high 10 rebounds in the win. The Yellow Jackets shot a school-best tying 16-16 (100 percent) from the free throw line in the win.

Mount Union (8-2, 3-2 OAC) was led by junior guard Tori Rappach with 13 points and four rebounds. Senior forward Jaime Sanborn contributed 10 points for the Purple Raiders.

BW got out to an early 13-4 lead behind three-point field goals by junior All-OAC and Academic All-OAC guard Riley Schill (Sheffield Village/Elyria Catholic), Schentur and Hughes. Mount Union responded with a three of their own to make the score 13-7 with 4:52 remaining in the first quarter. Both teams were unable to find a constant offensive rhythm for much of the remainder of the quarter. Throughout the last three minutes and 30 seconds, both teams only made one field goal, with BW adding in two made free throws by Hughes, giving the Yellow Jackets a 17-9 lead heading into the second quarter.

BW's big second quarter allowed them to gain traction heading into halftime. About five minutes through the stanza, Marshall connected on a three-point field goal to give BW a 30-19 lead. Both teams went scoreless for the next 2:34 until Hughes hit a three-pointer to extend the Yellow Jacket lead to 14. Mount Union quickly responded with a three-point basket of their own by Rappach. BW rode Hughes' hot hand for the rest of the quarter as she connected on one more three-pointer and a floater right in front of the rim to finish the half in the lead 38-24. The Yellow Jackets shot 56.3 percent in the second quarter and connected on half of their three-pointers while holding the Purple Raiders to just 38.5 percent from the floor.

Mount Union got off to a hot start in the third quarter, cutting the Yellow Jacket lead to just 10 after a two free throw tosses and a jumper by Sanborn. Over 3:35, BW put together a 6-0 run powered by layups from Hughes, Marshall and senior forward Rachel Womeldorf (Lewis Center/Olentangy) to get their lead back up to 14, 44-30 with 5:30 remaining in the quarter. The teams went scoreless from the floor for the next four minutes until Rappach knocked down a three-pointer with 1:11 remaining as BW went into the final frame with a 48-36 lead.

The Yellow Jacket lead was quickly cut to just nine points after a three-point make by Rappach two minutes into the fourth quarter. BW responded with a 7-0 run to regain a 58-41 lead with five minutes remaining. BW was able to outscore Mount Union 19-14 in the final quarter to win the game 67-50.

The Yellow Jackets will begin the 2019 portion of their schedule in a men's and women's doubleheader on Wednesday, Jan. 2, inside Ursprung Gymnasium. The women are slated for a 5 p.m. tip against Marietta College and the men will do battle with Heidelberg University at 7 p.m.