TIFFIN – Not since the late 90s when Nick Carter was tearin' up hearts with the Backstreet Boys has a Carter energized a roomful of people quite like freshman center Alex Carter did for the Heidelberg University women's basketball team on Saturday.  In just five minutes of action on the court, Carter scored six points that helped spark a frantic second half rally in a 64-60 Heidelberg victory over visiting Mount Union.  

Carter's points came early in an 20-5 run that turned a 14-point into a one point lead early in the fourth quarter.

Heidelberg improved to 5-6 overall, 1-3 in the OAC.  Mount Union fell to 6-5, 0-4.  

Maddy Crawford offered up 21 points and 11 rebounds -- her third straight double-double, eighth of the season, and 32nd of her career.  She added five blocked shots.

Brittanie Ulmer racked up 16 points while Alli Adelsperger tallied 12 points.  

Perhaps the most telling stat of the game -- Heidelberg held Tori Rappach, who entered the game averaging 16.5 points per contest, scoreless.  

After staying in stride with Mount Union's high tempo throughout the first quarter, the Student Princes succumbed to the pressure in the second period. Trailing by just three at the end of the first quarter, Heidelberg was outscored 15-6 in the second to find themselves in a 12-point hole at the intermission. The Purple Raiders outshot HU 41% to 14% in the second frame alone. 

The deficit crept up to 14 on a few occasions in the third quarter before Carter took center stage.  In addition to the points, Carter fed Crawford for a lay-up and a three-point play late in the third as HU closed the gap to 10.  

Carter's final two baskets opened the scoring in the fourth.  Purple Raiders' shooting woes piled up as Heidelberg mounted a comeback.  Brooke Beamer hit a jumper, Crawford hit free throws and Ulmer hit a jumper in the paint -- knotting the game at 50 with 6:29 to play.  

Mount Union's Brianna Gassman temporarily halted the bleeding with a layup before Adelsperger stepped into a 3-pointer from between the circles -- giving Heidelberg its first lead since the fifth minute of the game.  
Out of a timeout, the Purple Raiders regrouped and went on an 8-0 run, taking a 60-53 lead with 3:48 to play.  

The Student Princes, though, were not done.

Crawford hit a pair of free throws before Ulmer hit back-to-back triples -- a 9-0 counter that gave the lead back to the Tricolor.  After the teams traded misses, Ulmer hit an acrobatic layup that pushed the HU lead to 63-60 with 45 seconds remaining.  
Mount would not score the rest of the way as the Student Princes emerged with a 64-60 victory to ring in the new year. Heidelberg outscored the visitors 24-10 in the fourth, shooting 66.7% from the floor in the period.  

Despite only scoring seven points, Beamer added eight rebounds and five assists.  

Mount Union had three players reach double figures -- led by a 14-point afternoon for Gassman.  

Crawford's double-double was her first against Mount Union -- and she now has at least one against every conference foe.

Heidelberg will get back on the road this Wednesday as they will travel to Ohio Northern for a 7 p.m. matchup.