Case Western Reserve University senior forward Kayla Characklis, senior guard Sarah Mitchell, and sophomore guard/forward Emily Plachta each scored in double figures to lead the Spartans to a 63-59 win over the University of Mount Union at Horsburgh Gymnasium in Cleveland on Tuesday night.

It was the second-straight win for the Spartans who got back over .500 for the season with a 4-3 overall record. Mount Union fell to 3-2 with the loss.

Mitchell led the team with a career-high 16 points, shooting a perfect six-of-six from the floor and four-of-four from the free throw line, while adding seven rebounds and six assists. Characklis recorded her first double double of the season and the ninth of her career, finishing the game with 15 points, 12 rebounds, and three blocks. Plachta added a season-high 13 points for her second-straight double-figure scoring effort.

The Spartans came out of the gates on fire, shooting 69.2% from the floor during the first period. CWRU led by as many as 12 points during the frame after a pair of free throws by Plachta with 1:18 on the clock, and took a 25-15 lead into the second quarter. CWRU continued to build on its lead, going ahead 35-21 after a three by Plachta followed by a layup by Characklis on back-to-back possessions with 6:51 left in the half and taking a 16-point lead, 37-21, on a layup by Mitchell with 6:13 to play in the half. However, the Purple Raiders were able to trim the lead back to single digits by halftime, as CWRU held a 38-29 lead at the break.

CWRU went ahead by 14 points, 44-30, with 6:19 left in the third quarter after a layup by Characklis. However, Mount Union answered with a 10-0 run over the next three minutes to cut the Spartans' lead to four. The Spartans responded with a 9-0 run of their own and led by 10, 53-43 by the end of the third. CWRU led by as many as 14 points in the fourth quarter, going ahead 59-45 with 7:17 to go on a pair of free throws by Mitchell. The Purple Raiders did not go away quietly, going on a 14-2 run over the next seven minutes to pull back within two points with 12 seconds left in the game. However, Mitchell converted a pair of free throws with 11 seconds remaining to make it a two-possession game and Mount Union missed a three on their final shot attempt of the game as the Spartans held on for the win.

CWRU finished the game shooting 43.1% overall and outrebounded the Purple Raiders 44-33.

The Spartans will be back in action at Horsburgh Gymnasium on Friday, hosting Kenyon College for a 7:00 p.m. tip off.