Westlake graduate Rosa LaMattina scored a team-high 19 points, while also adding three assists and three steals, but Mount Union’s nationally-ranked team fell to No. 1-ranked Thomas More (Ky.), 76-63 in an NCAA Tournament second round matchup on Saturday.

Trailing 61-59 with 5:55 left, the Purple Raiders hit a scoring drought. The Saints scored nine straight points while Mount Union (26-4) shot 0 of 5 with one turnover over a period of 4:45.

LaMattina finally ended the dry spell with 1:10 on the clock, but by that time, the Raiders were behind, 70-61.

swalker@MorningJournal.com

Avon Lake's Bridget Lyons has committed to Mount Union and continue her basketball career.

Lyons, a 5-10 forward, was an all-conference, all-district, all-county and team MVP selection for coach Frank Coughlin.

Mount Union, an NCAA Division III institution, is coming off one of its most successful seasons in school history as the Purple Raiders went 25-5, won the Ohio Athletic Conference Tournament, advanced to the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA Tournament and finished ranked No. 13 in the nation.

Head coach Suzy Venet enters her sixth season on the bench in 2010-11 and was the WBCA Regional Coach of the Year this past season.

swalker@MorningJournal.com