The Lady Raider’s just keep rolling, and now they will carry their momentum into March after clinching their third straight OAC title with a convincing 77-60 victory over the Polar Bears of Ohio Northern.
The Mount Union women’s basketball team; ranked #6 in the nation, has now won 21 straight games (23 straight at home), improving to 26-1 for the season. With the win, the Raiders clinched the OAC auto-bid to the NCAA Division 3 tournament and will most likely host the first two rounds of the tournament at the MAAC in Alliance*. On Saturday, they left little doubt they were the best team in the conference. After the Polar Bears hung tough in the opening minutes, Mount Union unleashed an all-out assault from the 3-point line; making nine, including five by Senior Kori Wiedt, who led all scorers with 16 points and was named the tournament MVP for the second straight year.
Mount Union set the tone quickly, using a swarming defense which forced the Polar Bears into fourteen turnovers, and also recording ten steals. Along with Weidt, Rosa LaMattina and Amanda Rose also scored in double figures with 14 each. All three were honored as members of the All-OAC Tournament team. It was a game in which the Raiders led by double figures much of the way, leading by as many as 27 in the second half. The Raiders used their fast passed, aggressive offense to outscore ONU 16-0 on fast break points.
LaMattina was ecstatic about winning a third straight championship and feels the Raiders can go deep into the tournament. “We are so thankful to have won the championship 3 years in a row. It’s a great feeling to know to what extent this team can go and exactly what we are capable of. This is our year to put a national championship under our belt!”
Morgan Dumbaugh led the Polar Bears with eleven points along with All-OAC team member Kara Dysert who finished with 8 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists for the game.
For seniors Wiedt, Rose, Erin Schmidt, and Kelly Evans, it has been an incredible four seasons. Combined, they have won 94 games, and Rose, Wiedt and junior LaMattina have each scored over 1,000 points for the Raiders. The Raiders end the season as the top ranked team in the Great Lakes region. Wiedt was elated with winning another championship and praised the chemistry on the team. “The championship game was an amazing feeling. We came out ready to win and we worked incredibly hard for the 3 peat. Our team is extremely close outside of basketball which is why we have so much chemistry on the court- we work together and are willing to sacrifice for each other day in and day out at practices and games. As a senior, I can say I wouldn’t have asked for a better last season!”
*Article completed before bracket was announced
