By: Athletic Communications Student Assistant Paige Phillips '23
BEREA, Ohio – The No. 14 nationally ranked Baldwin Wallace University women's basketball team defeated No. 10 nationally ranked Ohio Northern University in an Ohio Athletic Conference matchup by a final score of 66-62 in overtime in the Ursprung Gymnasium inside the Lou Higgins Center.
BW (19-3, 12-3 OAC) was led by graduate All-OAC and Academic All-OAC guard Megan Hensel (Upper Sandusky) as she posted 13 points and eight boards. Sophomore forward Bella Vaillant (Perrysburg) and sophomore guard Emily Irwin (Pickerington/Pataskala Watkins Memorial) tallied 12 points each. Vaillant recorded six rebounds, while Irwin had four boards and three assists. Junior guard/forward Sylvie Sonneman (Jamestown/Greenview) also notched double-digits with 10 points, six rebounds, and two steals.
Ohio Northern (19-3, 13-2 OAC) was led by Kristen Luersman as she knocked down a game-high 18 points and seven rebounds. Brynn Serbin finished with 13 points and 10 rebounds.
FIRST HALF
- ONU made it to the basket first, but a three from Irwin put the Yellow Jackets on top early in the first quarter.
- The remainder of the first quarter featured back-and-forth play and ended with the Polar Bears leading 12-11.
- ONU got started in the second quarter with a 7-0 run to gain the advantage.
- After a 7-2 run from the Yellow Jackets, the teams went into halftime with the Polar Bears leading by two (21-19 ONU).
SECOND HALF
- ONU opened the third quarter with a 12-0 run, which was halted by a layup from Vaillant. A layup from Irwin cut the ONU lead to five at the close of the third quarter.
- Junior guard Carolyn Wochele (Mentor) knocked down a three to end an 8-0 run for ONU with 7:19 left in the fourth quarter.
- A pair of free throws from Vaillant and a jump shot from Hensel cut the difference to two points just before an ONU timeout.
- The Yellow Jackets tied the game with 2:44 left to go, and a huge three from Hensel put the Yellow Jackets in the lead.
- The lead was traded back-and-forth between the teams until the Polar Bears tied the score just before the end of the fourth quarter.
OVERTIME
- ONU and BW went back-and-forth until Hensel knocked down a three to put the Yellow Jackets in the lead with 45 seconds left.
- Three made free throws for the Yellow Jackets and a pair of misses on the Polar Bear end secured the 66-62 victory for BW.
The Yellow Jackets will be back in action on Saturday, February 11th when they host Muskingum University in the second game of an OAC men's and women's doubleheader and celebrate Seniors' Day. Tip-off is at 4:00 p.m. in the Urpsrung Gymnasium inside Lou Higgins Center.
