COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Capital University women's basketball team hosted the Mount Union Purple Raiders in an OAC matchup on Saturday. The Comets shot the lights out, going 47.8% (22-46) from the field and tied their single-game record with an impressive 14-for-31 (45.2%) from three. Capital shared the ball well, ending the game with three players in double-digits. This impressive offensive effort was too much for the Purple Raiders, leading to a 73-60 Comet victory.

The dominant win promotes Capital to 14-3 overall and 8-2 in OAC conference play. Following the loss, Mount Union moves to 7-10 overall and 2-8 in OAC conference play.

HOW IT HAPPENED
The first quarter began with both teams feeling each other out, trying to find holes in the other's game plan. Mount Union struck first and got straight into their press, attempting to speed the Comets up and force turnovers. Capital seemed comfortable against the press, moving the ball up and down the court with relative ease. It was apparent early on that Samaree Perkins was a big part of the game plan for Capital. The Purple and White shared the ball well, setting up their shooters who were major difference makers in the first half. Perkins and Kendall Spreen were both very efficient from behind the arc, going 3-3 and 2-2 respectively. Perkins only missed one shot the entire half, going 5-6 from the field and scoring a massive 16 points. Capital was able to keep a lead for a majority of the first half, going into halftime up 42-26.

Mount Union came out of the half in the same full-court press that they used in the first half. The intensity proved too much for the Comets to handle at first, leading to a 7-0 run and forcing a Capital timeout. After talking things over, the Comets seemed more under control and were able to break the press with ease for the rest of the game. Laney Murphy came up big for Capital out of the timeout scoring five points of her own to put the Comets back on track. A technical foul on Bri O'Connor looked like it may swing the momentum back in favor of the Purple Raiders, but the Purple and White were able to get a stop and keep control of the game. Mount wore themselves down pressing full-court, leading to Capital being in the bonus in the third quarter. The Purple Raiders found their stride in the fourth quarter, going on a 7-0 run with 3:33 left in the contest and cutting the Capital lead to just nine points. O'Connor came alive in the fourth, making three shots from beyond the arc. The Comet lead was too much for Mount Union to overcome, leading to a dominant 73-60 victory.

THE NUMBERS
Bri O'Connor led the Comets in scoring with 23 points. Of those 23 points, 10 of them came at the free-throw line where she was a perfect 10-10. She also shot 5-9 from the field and 3-5 from behind the arc, with three rebounds, one assist, and one steal.

Samaree Perkins finished the game with 20 points, going 3-5 from the three-point line. She also led the team in rebounds with seven and blocks with two. 

Kya Jordan showcased her court vision, leading the team in assists with five and adding five points, and three rebounds.

Kendall Spreen shot a perfect 2-2 from behind the arc, contributing six points to the Comets scoring effort and recording one steal.

Laney Murphy finished with 10 points as well as five rebounds, two assists, and one steal.

Jenna Horsley had three points and four rebounds.

UP NEXT
The Comets are set to host the Heidelberg Student Princes on Wednesday, January 29. The contest is set to start at 7:00 pm.