Mount Union basketball teams set to face Marietta in Ohio Athletic Conference action

Mike Popovich, The Alliance Review
·3 min read
Mount Union's Christian Parker drives to the basket during a game against Marietta on Jan. 11.
Mount Union's Christian Parker drives to the basket during a game against Marietta on Jan. 11.

The Mount Union basketball teams will face Marietta on Wednesday. Tip-off times for both games is 7 p.m. The women's game will be played at Mount Union's Timken Gymnasium. The men's game is at Marietta. Here is a preview of both games:

MOUNT UNION MEN

The records: Mount Union is 19-2 overall and in second place in the Ohio Athletic Conference at 12-2, one game behind first-place John Carroll. The Purple Raiders are ranked fourth in the nation in this week's D3hoops.com poll. Marietta is 13-6 overall and 8-6 in the OAC.

The coaches: Mike Fuline is 213-97 in his 12th season at Mount Union. Jon VanderWal is 309-122 in this 16th season at Marietta.

Notes: Mount Union is looking for its first regular season sweep of Marietta since 2019-20. Despite breaking his nose, forward Christian Parker had 24 points, nine rebounds and a school-record seven blocks in a 73-71 win over the Pioneers on Jan. 11. ... Parker scored his 1,000th career point last week. He averaged 23.0 points and 9.5 rebounds in wins over Baldwin Wallace and Wilmington and was named the Ohio Athletic Conference Player of the Week. ... Guard Chris Painter Jr. and forward Darrell Newsom Jr. lead at the OAC in 3-point shooting. Painter is shooting 50.0% from behind the arc. Newsome is shooting 48.2%. ... After a rough January start, Marietta has won four of five. ... Guard David Sanford leads the Pioneers in scoring at 12.0 points a game. ... Post Sahmi Willoughby led Marietta with 12 points in last month's game against Mount Union.

Next: Mount Union hosts Capital on Friday at 6 p.m.

Mount Union's Emma Cannon (right) shares the team lead in scoring at 10.3 points a game.
Mount Union's Emma Cannon (right) shares the team lead in scoring at 10.3 points a game.

MOUNT UNION WOMEN

The records: Mount Union is 6-15 overall and in ninth place in the Ohio Athletic Conference at 3-11. Marietta 15-6 overall and in third place in the OAC at 10-4.

The coaches: Suzy Venet is 281-187 in her 18th season at Mount Union. She is just eight wins shy of her 300th overall. Kole Vivian is 115-57 in his seventh season at Marietta.

Notes: Mount Union has lost four straight since a 70-45 win over Heidelberg on Jan. 21. A defeat Wednesday would match the Purple Raiders' longest losing streak of the season. ... Guard Emma Cannon and forward Gretchen Koken share the team lead in scoring at 10.3 points a game. Cannon scored eight points in Mount Union's 61-42 loss at Marietta on Jan. 11. ... Marietta has won three straight. The streak includes a 59-49 victory over Baldwin Wallace, which is ranked 14th in this week's D3hoops.com national poll. ... Guard Olivia Gribble scored 11 points in the Pioneers' home win over Mount Union last month. She averages a team-leading 9.9 points a game. ... Former Louisville High School forward Erin Hahn leads Marietta and the OAC with an average of 8.5 rebounds a game.

Next: Mount Union hosts Capital on Saturday at 2 p.m.

This article originally appeared on The Alliance Review: Mount Union hits homestretch with basketball games against Marietta