Rossville, MD – The Lady Owls showcased their strength and resilience at the annual CCBC Essex Mixer this past weekend, leaving Maryland with an undefeated record in the two-day event. Competing against some of the nation's top teams, the Owls delivered standout performances against Bryant & Stratton College (VA) on Saturday and Prince George’s Community College on Sunday.
The Owls kicked off their weekend with a thrilling contest against the Bryant & Stratton (VA) Bobcats. From the opening tip-off, it was clear that this matchup would be competitive, as the first quarter ended in a 14-14 tie. However, the Owls found their rhythm in the second quarter, sparked by a three-point play from Hellary DeLosSantos, a critical defensive stop, and a deep three-pointer by Ayva Tillmon. By halftime, Union had established a 41-28 lead.
The Bobcats pushed back in the third quarter, trimming the deficit to just five points, but the Owls proved why they are a force to be reckoned with, closing the game with authority. Union secured an 88-73 victory, led by a remarkable performance from DeLosSantos, who scored a game-high 34 points on 70% shooting while adding 13 rebounds. Destiny Bynum Johnson also showed her versatility, contributing 20 points, 9 rebounds, 7 assists, and 6 steals. Yasmeen Brightwell and Ore Ogunwolereadded 11 points each, with Ogunwolere dishing out 7 assists and grabbing 5 steals.
Union’s momentum carried into Sunday, where they faced Prince George’s Community College. The Owls delivered a dominant offensive performance, spearheaded once again by DeLosSantos. The standout forward notched another double-double with 21 points, 16 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals. The Owls’ balanced attack proved too much for Prince George’s, as they cruised to an 86-60 victory.
Yasmeen Brightwell had a stellar shooting day, sinking four of five three-point attempts to finish with 18 points, along with 6 rebounds. Ore Ogunwolere continued her consistent play with 13 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals, while Bynum Johnson added another double-double to her weekend tally with 10 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals.
Lady Owls are up next on Saturday, January 4th at 1:00pm vs Howard Community College at the Owl's Nest (Cranford Campus Gymnasium).
GO OWLS!
