By Tim Glon

The No. 9-ranked Ohio Northern women's basketball team stayed undefeated on the season with a 73-60 victory at Mount Union at The MAAC on Saturday afternoon. The Polar Bears extend their program-best start to a season to 17-0 overall and are 10-0 in Ohio Athletic Conference play, while the Purple Raiders fall to 9-8, 4-6.

Northern went on an 11-0 run over the final 3:11 of the first half, turning a 28-all tie into a 39-28 halftime lead. MtU pulled within 43-38 three minutes into the third quarter, but a 12-2 ONU run pushed the lead to 55-40 with 1:53 left in the period. The Polar Bears out-scored the Purple Raiders 9-2 over the final 5:22 after the hosts had pulled within 64-58.

Senior Britt Lauck (Lima/Shawnee) scored 20 points, junior Amy Bullimore (Morrow/Little Miami) scored 18 points and sophomore Jenna Dirksen (Beavercreek/Carroll) added 11 points for ONU.

Ohio Northern made 24-of-47 field goal attempts for 51.1 percent and were 2-of-11 from 3-point range for 18.2 percent, while Mount Union made 20-of-65 shots from the floor for 30.8 percent and was 7-of-24 from beyond the 3-point arc for 29.2 percent. MtU out-rebounded ONU 44-32.

The Polar Bears will return to action Wednesday night when they host Wilmington in a 7 pm game.