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Pioneer women’s season finished by the Polar Bears

MARIETTA — Ohio Northern University went 3-crazy.

The seventh-seeded Polar Bears drained 11 triples en route to a 59-55 upset of third-seeded Marietta College Thursday night in an Ohio Athletic Conference Tournament women’s basketball semifinal at Ban Johnson Arena.

“They got some good looks, and they knocked those looks down,” said MC head coach Kole Vivian. “They shot really well on it (the 3). A couple of those kids probably don’t shoot like that normally. But that’s what happens. Anything can happen in a one-game tournament.”

ONU (15-12) was 11 of 22 (50 percent) from 3-point range in the contest. Emily Brock, a non-starter, led the way with 15 points on five threes. Jenna Dirksen added 12 points, while Emily Mescher and Tori Wyss netted 10 and 8, respectively. Overall from the field, the Polar Bears were 22-51 (43.1 percent).

“They’re a good team,” Vivian said. “They earned it. We battled and played hard. They just made some plays there at the end.

“I’m proud of our effort. Love our team. Love are seniors. The seniors were awesome tonight.”

Senior Corrie Burkhardt had a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds to pace the Pioneers (18-9).

“Corrie’s unbelievable,” Vivian said. “She gave us so much this last four years.”

MC senior Shay Lett chipped in with nine points and a team-high four assists.

“I’m going to miss Shay a ton,” Vivian said. “She’s grown up so much since she came here.”

Marietta’s Jo Herd-Middlebrooks, the other senior on the game roster, also was a contributor game-in and game-our throughout her career.

“Jo, she’s done so much, leading the team and giving a really good voice,” Vivian said.

Against ONU, Pioneer sophomore Marlo Taylor tallied 14 points, including four 3s, and Alexis Enochs had 10 markers.

The contest featured 11 lead changes and nine ties.

At the end of one, Marietta and Ohio Northern were knotted at 11-all. The Pioneers suffered a huge setback, though, when point guard Bailee Brooks injured her knee on a drive to the basket. The talented sophomore playmaker was able to walk off the court on her own power, but did not return to the action.

In the second stanza, ONU scored 10 unanswered points and led 29-18 at the 2:26 mark. The Bears were 7 of 11 (63.6 percent) from behind the arc in the first half.

The Pioneers closed out the first 20 minutes of play with a a 5-0 run on a Lett trifecta and two Enochs freebies.

MC trailed 29-23 at the intermission.

Marietta and Ohio Northern were even-steven at 39-all at the end of three. During the period. Taylor knocked down three straight 3s, and scored 11 points in the quarter.

The Polar Bears started the final period scoring five unanswered points, but the Pios answered with a 7-0 run with Burkhardt tallying five points.

ONU came back and tied it (46-46) on a Dirksen jumper and then regained the advantage, 49-46, on an Alyssa Manley 3.

After a Burkhardt steal and layup and a Taylor bucket and bonus freebie, MC led 51-49. But the Bears tied it again and then led, 54-51, when Wyss made a trey.

With 28 seconds left, Burkhardt converted a pair at the line to cut it to 56-55. But Dirksen made 3 of 4 at the stripe at crunch time to keep the Pioneers at bay.

Ohio Northern is scheduled to play at top-seeded John Carroll University in a tourney final at 3 p.m. Saturday

“They’re (Bears) playing really well right now,” Vivian said. “So, you don’t know what’s going to happen.”

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