The Heidelberg University women’s basketball team traveled to Ada, Ohio and the campus of Ohio Northern University as their Ohio Athletic Conference schedule begins to reach its end.
The Polar Bears entered the matchup ranked fifth in the nation by d3hoops.com and sat atop the OAC with a spotless 14-0 record. The Student Princes entered the game searching for their second victory in the OAC.
The powerful Polar Bears outscored the Berg 39-19 in the first half, which proved to be too much for the Student Princes to overcome as Ohio Northern rolled to a 70-58 victory.
Juniors Kathleen Phillips (Sandusky/St. Mary’s) and Megan Miller (Tiffin/Columbian) both hit double figures in the loss, scoring 26 and 13 respectively.
Phillips also collected eight rebounds, one assist and three steals against the Polar Bears, while Miller tallied two rebounds in Ada. Miller shot three of three from the free throw line.
Senior Jordan Ickes (Wooster/Triway) scored four points for the Berg by shooting a perfect four of four from the charity stripe.
Freshman Allie Hawkins (Bucyrus) led the Berg off of the bench with seven points, four rebounds and three assists.
After trailing by 20 at the half, the Berg began to scrap away at the Ohio Northern lead in the second half, bringing the deficit the 16 with a Hawkins three-pointer at the 10:47 mark. The Hawkins three was assisted by fellow freshman Nicole Payne (Lewis Center/Olentangy).
The Student Princes and the Polar Bears exchanged buckets with the Berg still chipping away at the Ohio Northern advantage.
With 1:00 left to play, the Student Princes brought the Polar Bear lead to single digits, 67-58, but Ohio Northern would go on a 3-0 run in the last minute of regulation resulting in the 70-58 final.
The Heidelberg women and head coach Marcie Alberts will return to the hardwood on Saturday, February 9, when they host the Muskies of Muskingum University. Tip off from Seiberling Gymnasium between the Student Princes and the Muskies is slated for 3:00 p.m.