GAMBIER, Ohio – The University of Mount Union women's basketball team let loose a swarming defense that smothered the Kenyon College Ladies throughout Sunday's 56-39 non-conference victory for the visiting Purple Raiders.
Mount Union, which improved to 4-0 with the win, pressured and often doubled the ball up-and-down the floor. The tension didn't set well with Kenyon shooters, who fired at a season-low 23.4 percent (15-of-64).

Kenyon, which suffered its first loss and fell to 4-1, was no slouch on defense, either. The Ladies forced 16 turnovers and rattled the Purple Raiders into 31.1 percent shooting (19-of-61), which was also a season-low.

Mount Union made its intention clear from the start. While jumping out to an 8-0 lead, the Purple Raiders forced four Kenyon turnovers, as well as a couple of missed shots. The Ladies didn't register their first points until junior Paige Matijasich knocked down a close-range jumper with 5:14 left on the first-quarter clock. That was one of just four field goals in the opening quarter for the Ladies, who faced a 15-9 deficit.

The Kenyon women cleaned up some of the turnovers in the second quarter, but their shooting accuracy continued to drop. They scored just two field goals on 17 shots (11.8 percent) and fell behind 27-15 at the break.

In the second half, Kenyon shot better but its deficit proved too much to overcome. Three times in the third quarter the Ladies pulled within nine points and a Matijasich bucket before the buzzer got the Ladies within seven.

The Purple Raiders answered by scoring the first seven points of the final quarter, while holding Kenyon to two points through the first seven minutes of the period.

Matijasich concluded the game with 15 points and nine rebounds, while freshman Grace Connery hit two three-pointers to score six. No other Kenyon player scored more than five points. On the boards, senior Lane Davis posted a game-high 11 rebounds, while classmate Sharon Hull added 10 more for the Ladies.

In terms of offense, Rachel Tinkey was the difference for Mount Union. The senior guard poured in 21 points and snared eight rebounds. Tori Rappach scored nine and Corenna Maynard chipped with seven more for the visitors.

Kenyon will now return to North Coast Athletic Conference play Wednesday, when it hosts rival Denison University in a game scheduled to tip-off at 6 p.m.