MARIETTA, Ohio – Sophomore
Marlo Taylor (Kimbolton, Ohio/Cambridge) hit a three pointer with 3.8 seconds remaining to seal the 74-71 victory over the University of Mount Union on Wednesday (Feb. 6). With the win the Pioneers improve to 14-8 overall and 9-6 in the Ohio Athletic Conference and with the loss the Purple Raiders fall to 16-6 overall and 9-6 in the OAC.
Head Coach
Kole Vivian said, "I am so proud of how we finished that game. We had to get one stop with 45 seconds left and we did, and we handled our last possession like a very mature team. It was an excellent find by Shay and we always have confidence in Marlo."
The first quarter started as the teams traded baskets, and the Pioneers led 8-7, behind four points from
Shay Lett (Chillicothe, Ohio/Chillicothe). The Purple Raiders responded and took a 12-8 lead with six minutes to play in the opening frame. After Mount Union grabbed a 15-11 lead, Marietta rallied to tie the game at 17 points apiece, when Lett hit a three and
Jo Herd-Middlebrooks (Columbus, Ohio/DeSales) tied the game with a layup. The Pioneers entered the second quarter behind, 20-17.
The Purple Raiders scored the first five points of the second quarter, and stretched their lead to 25-17, which forced a Marietta timeout at the 7:17 minute mark of the quarter. Out of the timeout, Mount Union stretched its lead to 30-22 before the Pioneers opened a 7-0 run, that cut the lead to 30-29. The run was led by
Alexis Enochs (Beverly, Ohio/Fort Frye) and was capped by a layup from
Corrie Burkhardt (Zanesville, Ohio/Philo). The teams battled down the stretch and Marietta led, 36-34 at the intermission.
The Purple Raiders opened the second half with a flurry as they outscored the Pioneers 11-5 early in the third quarter to take a 45-41 edge. The Pioneers battled back to take a 46-45 edge when Herd-Middlebrooks knocked down a pair of foul shots. The teams swapped the lead for the remainder of the third quarter and Mount Union led, 56-54 to enter the final frame.
Marietta tied the game at 59 points apiece early in the fourth quarter and a three pointer from Taylor gave the Pioneers a 62-59 edge, which forced a Purple Raiders timeout with seven minutes remaining in the game. Out of the timeout, Marietta was able to stretch its lead to 69-64 behind a three pointer from
Bailee Brooks (Akron, Ohio/Cuyahoga Falls), which forced a Mount Union timeout at the 3:23 mark of the fourth quarter. After the break, the Purple Raiders tied the game at 71 points apiece and forced a Pioneers timeout. The game remained tied at 71 for a minute and a half until Taylor knocked down a three with 3.8 seconds remaining to give Marietta a 74-71 lead. The Pioneers won, 74-71.
Marietta was led by Taylor as she had 15 points, five rebounds, and a pair of assists. Lett added 15 points, and had a pair of assists in the game. Burkhardt and Enochs each pitched in with 13 points and had seven and six rebounds respectively. Enochs tied a career high in blocks with five.
Marietta will be back in action Saturday (Feb. 9) when they host Wilmington on Senior Night, with tip scheduled for 3 p.m.
Fans can follow all of the Pioneer teams all year long at pioneers.marietta.edu. You can also follow the Pioneers on Facebook at facebook.com/MariettaCollege and @MariettaPioneer on Twitter and Instagram.
