Mount Union basketball teams travel to Ohio Northern for OAC contests on Saturday
The Mount Union basketball teams play at Ohio Northern on Saturday. The men’s game tips off at 2 p.m., with the women’s game to follow. Here is a preview of both games:
MOUNT UNION MEN
The records: Mount Union is 16-2 overall and 9-2 in the Ohio Athletic Conference, and ranked No. 3 nationally by D3hoops.com following a 74-72 loss at John Carroll on Wednesday. Ohio Northern (9-9, 5-6) defeated Wilmington 79-62 on Wednesday.
The coaches: Mike Fuline is 210-97 in his 12th season at Mount Union. Neal Young is in his first season at Ohio Northern after nine seasons at Goshen (Ind.) and Covenant (Ga.), where he was a combined 128-121.
Projected starters: Mount Union: 6-3 Sr. Collen Gurley (14.2 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.8 assists per game); 6-6 Jr. Christian Parker (17.9, 7.4, 1.4); 6-5 Gr. Braedon Poole (7.7, 5.0, 0.7); 6-3 Gr. Sr. Darrell Newsom (10.5, 2.3, 0.9) and 6-0 Sr. Chris Painter Jr. (6.6, 2.3, 2.3).
Ohio Northern: 6-6 Sr. C.J. Napier (17.1 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 1.2 apg); 6-6 Sr. Adam Scott (10.6, 4.7, 1.4); 6-8 Sr. Michael Berner (5.8, 5.2, 1.4); 6-2 Fr. Will Miller (7.5, 4.5, 1.6), and 5-9 Soph. Ethan Bell (6.2, 3.1, 2.4).
Notes: Mount Union defeated Ohio Northern 89-71 on Dec. 10 at Timken Gymnasium. Collen Gurley led the Purple Raiders with 21 points and five rebounds, while Christian Parker and Jeffery Mansfield added 13 apiece. Landen Long led ONU with 18 points. … Mount Union shot .600 from the floor (33 of 55) in that game. … In his last two games, Gurley is shooting .640 from the floor (16-for-25), including 9-of-14 on 3-pointers. … In Wednesday’s two-point loss at John Carroll, the Raiders were just 9-for-20 at the free-throw line. They are .633 for the season, which is ninth in the 10-team OAC and 360th nationally (out of 413 teams). … Christian Parker is second in the OAC in scoring and third in rebounds. … ONU won 65-64 at Heidelberg on Jan. 18.
Next: Mount Union plays host to Baldwin Wallace at 7 p.m. Wednesday.
MOUNT UNION WOMEN
The records: Mount Union is 6-12, 3-8 in the OAC after losing to John Carroll 65-60 on Wednesday. Ohio Northern (16-2, 10-1) is ranked No. 18 nationally by D3hoops.com and defeated Wilmington 74-66 on Wednesday.
The coaches: Suzy Venet is 281-184 in her 18th season at Mount Union, and 292-200 overall. Mark Huelsman is 40-18 in three seasons at ONU.
Projected starters: Mount Union: 5-3 Soph. Dae Dae Nash (7.5 points per game, 4.5 rebounds per game, 2.3 assists per game); 5-8 Sr. Gretchen Koken (10.9, 7.1, 1.1); 5-10 Fr. Audrey Livesay (3.8, 2.3, 0.5); 5-6 Soph. Ali Hudik (8.4, 2.6, 1.8), and 5-7 Sr. Emma Cannon (10.4, 4.3, 1.1).
Ohio Northern: 5-10 Jr. Kristen Luersman (11.4 ppg, 8.6 rpg, 1.6 apg); 6-1 Soph. Brooke Allen (11.1, 5.2, 0.3); 5-5 Sr. Brynn Serbin (14.2, 6.1, 4.4); 5-7 Sr. Kasey Knippen (4.9, 2.9, 1.1), and 5-7 Soph. Abi Akamine (5.1, 2.7, 1.3).
Notes: Ohio Northern won 71-37 in Alliance on Dec. 10. Brynn Serbin led all scorers with 25 points for the Polar Bears. Gretchen Koken and Emma Cannon led the Raiders with 11 and 10 points, respectively. … Mount Union was just 13-for-53 from the floor (.245). … ONU leads the OAC in shooting (.413), field goal percentage defense (.324) and rebound margin (8.7). … Koken led the Raiders against John Carroll with 18 points and six rebounds. ... Madison Hensley also scored 18 points in 22 minutes off the bench.
Next: Mount Union travels to No. 10 Baldwin Wallace at 7 p.m. Wednesday.
This article originally appeared on The Alliance Review: Mount Union basketball teams visit Ohio Northern on Saturday
