Mount women's basketball team ends three-game losing streak with a 59-53 win at Earlham College

Kat O'Neill (Burlington, KY/Conner) scored a season-high 17 points to lead three Mount players in double figures as the Mount posted a 56-53 win today at Earlham College. The Lions, 5-15 overall and 5-9 in the HCAC, is back in action on Feb. 5 when they host Senior Night against HCAC-foe Transylvania University.

The Mount jumped out to a 31-26 lead at the half, thanks to eight points from Abby LaRosa (Cincinnati, OH/Mercy) and six points and four rebounds from O'Neill. Katie Jo Collins (Cincinnati, OH/Mercy) led the Mount with six rebounds in the first hald as the Lions jumped out to leads of 11-5, after a LaRosa three-point basket, and 19-8, when Collins converted a lay-up.

The Lions pushed their advantage out to a 37-26 margin by the 16:04 markn of the second half, thanks to the scoring of O'Neill, LaRosa and Collins. Earlham College knocked the lead under double digits, 46-38, with 9:03 remaining in the game, and moments later cut the Mount lead to 46-43, but could get no closer down the stretch. The Mount held the Quakers to 32 percent shooting in the second half while forcing 10 turnovers in the final 20 minutes of action. O'Neill scored 11 of her team-high 17 points in the second half.

LaRosa added 13 points in the game while Collins had her first double-double of the season, finishing with 10 points and a game-high 11 rebounds.