Wooster, Ohio – The Oberlin College women's basketball team dropped the first game of the Nan Nichols Classic on the campus of The College of Wooster, falling 65-51 to the University of Mount Union Purple Raiders on Saturday afternoon.
 
Sophomore Sammy Spanier had a career-best day as she poured in 17 points to accompany her six rebounds and four assists. Cheyenne Arthur added 11 points while Ally Driscoll chipped in seven points in the setback.
 
Oberlin struggled to find an offensive rhythm for much of the afternoon, hitting on just 19 the 67 shots it hoisted. However, the Yeowomen were impressive from long range as they dialed in on six of 13 3-pointers.
 
The Yeowomen got off to a slow start as the Purple Raiders built a 17-10 lead after one quarter. However, Oberlin held Mount Union to just nine second-quarter points while working its way back into the game. A Spanier jumper and back-to-back layups by Driscoll had the Yeowomen to within five at 24-19 with 4:58 left in the half. In the closing minutes, a triple-hit from Arthur and another jumper from Driscoll shrunk the deficit down to just 26-24 at the intermission.
 
The Yeowomen stayed within striking distance throughout much of the third quarter, twice getting within one point with second instance coming on a Mackenzie Michaels' layup at the 5:16 mark to make it 29-28. However, the Yeowomen netted just two more points in the period as the Raiders carried a 42-30 cushion into the fourth quarter.
 
Oberlin continued to fight to the end but never closed the gap. A 3-pointer from Spanier had the margin down to 44-38 with 7:09 left to expire but the Purple Raiders quickly pushed the lead back out to double digits as Tori Rappach cashed in back-to-back 3-pointers to put a final dagger into the Yeowomen.
 
The Purple Raiders, who were led by 14 each from Rappach and Elena Rauhe, shot 39.7 percent (23-of-58) in the win.
 
Oberlin will have a short turnaround when it takes on Bethany College tomorrow at 1 p.m. to cap of the Nan Nichols classic.