By: Athletic Communications Student Assistant Morgan Massey '26
ALLIANCE, Ohio - The No. 12 nationally ranked Yellow Jackets women's basketball team rallied back from a ten-point deficit to defeat the University of Mount Union Purple Raiders in an Ohio Athletic Conference matchup by a final score of 46-45 inside Timken Gymnasium inside the McPherson Academic and Athletic Complex.
BW Leaders (13-1, 7-0 OAC)
- Senior All-OAC forward Bella Vaillant (Perrysburg) led the team with 13 points, two steals and seven rebounds
- Senior All-OAC guard/forward Caely Ressler (Napoleon) contributed three assists, two steals and five rebounds
- Senior All-OAC guard Emily Irwin (Pickerington/Pataskala Watkins Memorial) totaled 10 points, three steals and seven rebounds
- Sophomore guard Laura McCoy (Newton Falls/Garrettsville Garfield) went 4-4 on free throws and scored six points
Mount Union Leaders (6-7, 1-5 OAC)
- Sophomore forward Elizabeth Mason scored a team high 14 points along with having two blocks
- Junior forward McKayla Dunkle had six points and six rebounds
- Senior guard Dae Dae Nash had nine points and three steals
1st Quarter (3-10)
- BW was held scoreless until the last minute of the quarter with their first points coming from a three-pointer by sophomore guard Taylor Bass (Strongsville)
- The Yellow Jacket defense held strong only allowing 10 points to the Purple Raiders
2nd Quarter (18-18)
- The Jackets started the quarter strong scoring nine points in the first three minutes
- McCoy shot 2-2 at the free throw line to tie the game going into halftime
3rd Quarter (34-34)
- The Yellow Jackets gained their first lead of the game off a basket from McCoy
- Irwin was perfect from the free throw line going 4-4
4th Quarter (46-45)
- Vaillant sunk her final free throw to give the Jackets the lead in the final minute
- Irwin recorded a clutch steal from the Purple Raiders with one second left to secure the win
The Yellow Jackets will return home for an Ohio Athletic Conference matchup against the Marietta College Pioneers on Saturday, January 18th at 1 p.m. in Ursprung Gymnasium inside the Lou Higgins Center.
