Marietta College’s TJ Carpenter (11) handles the ball during Saturday's game against Ohio Northern at Ban Johnson Arena. (Photo by Rebecca Wheeler)

The Marietta College women’s basketball team found themselves in a back and forth battle on Saturday at the Ban Johnson Arena as they experienced 10 lead changes and eight ties against Ohio Northern University.

The Pioneers took control with a strong second half defensive display and came out with a 64-55 conference victory. The win extends Marietta’s win streak to five and puts their record at 9-7 overall and 4-3 in the OAC. Ohio Northern drops to 5-11 on the season and 4-3 in conference games.

“These guys worked so hard this afternoon and could not be more proud of them,” said Marietta head coach Jenna Andersen. “It’s all about our intensity on defense. We like to play fast paced and, anytime you can force a team like ONU into 18 turnovers, that’s always going to help us out.”

Marietta got off to quick start as Emma Rasmussen nailed a three pointer on the first Pioneer possession and, after a Polar Bear miss, Kendall Sury scored a quick transition layup to put the score at 5-0. Ohio Northern answered with a 7-0 run for the first of many lead changes on the afternoon. After some traded baskets, Marietta grabbed the lead back as Sarah Podkul converted a layup at the 2:47 mark. After TJ Carpenter’s layup with two minutes left, baskets were tough to come by for the remainder of the quarter. Although the Pioneer defense caused a pair of turnovers, they could not capitalize as they missed a trio of shots and took a 14-19 lead going into the second quarter.

The Polar Bears started the second period hot and hit a pair of layups to cut the deficit to one. The Pioneers answered with a driving layup from Kelsey Harlan and a three-pointer from Ava Heller to give them back some breathing room. The Polar Bears clawed back with some big shots from Emerson Gray and, after a three pointer from Logan Phillips with 3:56 remaining in the half, found themselves tied up again, this time at 21-all. Abby Garner answered with a jumper on the next possession to retake the lead. The Pioneers could only muster a trio of free throws to close out the half, but it was enough to hold onto a slender advantage as they lead Ohio Northern 25-24 going into intermission.

Ohio Northern got a layup and bonus free throw from Charlotte Pauling to begin the third period and the Polar Bears regained the lead. Sury answered with a layup and, on the following possession, buried a pair of free throw to give Marietta a three-point cushion. Although Marietta was kept scoreless for the next three minutes, ONU did not take full advantage. The Polar Bears did have a mini 4-0 run to take back the lead, but that was short-lived as Ella McMillan’s layup at the 4:13 mark put Marietta back on top. Both teams traded buckets for the next several possessions, but Marietta took the lead for the remainder of the period off of a layup from Amelia Uhrig, and entered the fourth period up 42-38.

Marietta scored first in the fourth period as Rasmussen buried a three-pointer and Uhrig followed with a jumper to give Marietta a nine-point lead. The Polar Bears again pushed back and, after Logan Phillips pull up jumper, cut the deficit to five. Marietta answered with back breaking 10-0 run, four points from the charity stripe, to further extend the lead and time was running out for the Polar Bears. Although ONU hits baskets in the closing minutes, they could not find a way to get back into the game and Marietta closed out a 64-55 victory.

Harlan led the way for Marietta with 15 points, five steals, five rebounds, and four assists. Sury scored 12 points and led the Pioneers with seven rebounds. Carpenter chipped in 10 points and collected four rebounds.

Gray led all scorers with 23 points and finished with eight rebounds.

Marietta will try to keep the winning to continue this Wednesday as they travel to play Muskingum, scheduled for a 7 p.m. tip-off.

MEN

Ohio Northern University came from behind in the second half to defeat Marietta College, 90-82, Saturday in Ohio Athletic Conference men’s basketball.

The Pioneers move to 7-9 overall and 2-5 in the OAC. Ohio Northern is 9-7 overall and 4-3 in the OAC.

A layup and free throw from Adisa Molton gave the Polar Bears a six-point lead, 16-10, six minutes into the game. Marietta answered with a 14-2 run to turn the six-point deficit into a six-point lead, 24-18. Three-pointers from Jake Singleton, Darius Carden and Elijah Harden sparked the Pioneer run.

Marietta maintained the lead the rest of the first half. The Pioneers led by as many as 10 points, 38-28, in the half. Back-to-back triples from Will Miller cut into the Marietta lead. The Pioneers led 42-38 at halftime.

Ohio Northern got hot from three-point range in the second half hitting seven triples in the period. An old-fashioned three-point play from Conye Gaston tied the game, 54-54, with 15:38 left in the game.

The Polar Bears gradually extended their lead and a three-pointer from Mason Studer at the 7:09 mark gave Ohio Northern a 15-point lead, 81-66. A nine-point outburst from Harden helped the Pioneers cut the margin to five, 85-80, with 1:25 left on the clock. But ONU hit five of six free throws down the stretch to preserve the victory.

Harden led all scorers with 24 points. He also dished out four assists. Singleton poured in 18 points in the first half and finished with 23 points and five rebounds. Mason Wisniewski added 16 points and seven rebounds.

Miller and Gaston both scored 19 points to lead Ohio Northern. Miller nailed five three-pointers, while Gaston grabbed eight rebounds. Aiden Harris had 12 points and eight boards. Theo Maag added 12 points, while Studer finished with 10 points.

Marietta hosts Muskingum on Wednesday. Tipoff I set for 7 p.m.