SE Bluegrass News

Women’s Basketball’s Historic Season Comes to an End Falling to Ohio Northern

The Berea College women's basketball team's fantastic season came to an end on Friday night, falling to No. 16 Ohio Northern University 54-43 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

The Mountaineers' season was one for the history books, finishing 26-3 overall and tying the program record for most wins in a season. The Mountaineers also played in their second NCAA Tournament game in three years and landed in the top-25 poll for the first time in program history.

Senior Aaliyah Hampton had an all-around performance as she finished with a team-high 13 points, four rebounds, two assists, two steals, and a block. Senior Destiny Combs shot six-for-10 overall for 12 points and corralled 11 boards. As a team, the Mountaineers secured 43 rebounds and blocked seven shots.

The Polar Bears had a pair in double-figures as Brynn Serbin scored a game-high 16 points and Brooke Allen was right behind with 15 points. Ohio Northern recorded 14 team assists.

Hampton opened the contest with Berea's first five points, knocking down a three-pointer on the first shot of the game and a midrange shot a few minutes later as Berea led 5-4 a little over halfway into the first quarter. Both teams continued to trade scores throughout the quarter, but a pair of free throws by sophomore Drea Satori gave the Mountaineers a one-point lead they would take into the second quarter 11-10.

The second quarter would foreshadow what was in store for the Mountaineers as they struggled to convert their shots. Berea shot 22% from the field and missed all five of their attempts from beyond the arc. Though the Mountaineers struggled from the field, they were perfect from the charity stripe hitting all five attempts. The Polar Bears took advantage of Berea's shooting struggles as Ohio Northern went from shooting 23% in the first quarter to 41% in the second to take a 27-23 lead into halftime.

After a poor shooting third quarter, the Mountaineers still found themselves within striking distance in the fourth, trailing just 38-32 at the start of the final quarter. However, Ohio Northern went on a 7-3 run that was capped off with a three-pointer from Serbin to give the Polar Bears a double-digit lead with 7:05 on the clock. Sophomore Dailyn Spalding brought Berea back within single digits on a deep two-point shot. After a defensive stop, Combs earned a trip to the free throw line where she split her shots.

Satori turned the contest into a four-point affair with a dribble pull-up from beyond the arc with 4:20 left in the game.  After a layup from Ohio Northern's Abi Akamine, Combs earned another trip to the free throw line this time hitting both of her shots and Berea trailed 47-43. However, another timely three-pointer from Serbin pushed all the momentum in the Polar Bear's favor and the Mountaineers' season came to an end, falling 54-43.

Original source can be found here.