The Wittenberg women's basketball team isn't just beating teams in the North Coast Athletic Conference right now. The Tigers are setting themselves apart from the rest -- by a wide margin. Last week, Wittenberg claimed three more victories, two by stunningly lop-sided margins. The three NCAC victories, over Kenyon on the road on Tuesday and back home in the HPER Center over Hiram and Allegheny on Friday and Saturday respectively, moved the Tigers within one game of a second consecutive conference regular season championship.
The Tigers started the week with a 70-57 victory over Kenyon. Wittenberg never trailed in the game and led by as many as 21 points early in the second half. Kenyon shot the ball well but could not overcome 32 turnovers, which were converted into 34 points for the Tigers.
The Tigers were led offensively by senior forward Tiffany Keller (Massillon, Ohio/Tuslaw) and senior guard Stephanie Campbell (South Charleston, Ohio/Southeastern), both with 12 points, and senior center Rebecca Meers (Moline, Ill./Moline), who finished with 11 points. Keller took charge in the second half, sinking four field goals in the first four minutes, lifting the Tigers to a 55-34 lead.
Wittenberg was dominating in every phase of the game in wins over Hiram, 91-37, and Allegheny, 98-45.
The Tigers got a career night from junior guard Amber Bishop (Batavia, Ohio/Batavia) against Hiram on Friday. Red-hot off the bench, Bishop scored a career-high 28 points in just 17 minutes of action on 12-of-12 shooting from the field, including 2-of-2 from three-point range, and 2-of-3 from the free throw line. The 100 percent shooting from the field tied a school and NCAC record, and the 12 straight baskets set a new mark. No one had previously made more than 11 consecutive.
Keller was the only other player in double figures with 15 points in just 16 minutes. Junior forward Haley Warden (Loveland, Ohio/Indian Hill) also had an outstanding all-around game with two points, four steals, five assists and six rebounds (five offensive) in just 10 minutes on the court.
Wittenberg forced a whopping 44 Hiram turnovers, 25 in the first half alone and dominated on the boards as well, collecting 46 rebounds to Hiram's 24, including 26 offensive caroms. On Saturday, the Tigers may have played their most complete game of the year in dismantling Allegheny. Wittenberg jumped out to a big lead early, played suffocating defense throughout and shot the ball as well as they have all season.
Allegheny committed 40 turnovers in the game, while the Tigers committed just 20 ballhandling miscues and outrebounded the Gators 40-34. The Tigers, who have not lost in 2003, went on runs of 13-0 and 15-0 in the first half to blow the game wide open before halftime. The Tigers stretched the lead to 50-17 by the break and led by as much as 57 points as reserves played the final 15 minutes of the game.
As usual, Wittenberg exhibited phenomenal balance. Keller led all scorers with 14 points, senior forward Meghan Bruggeman (Middletown, Ohio/Fenwick) added 12 points, senior guard Kate Rolf (Ft. Wayne, Ind./Carroll) chipped in with 11 points and Meers finished with 10 points. Also of note was another tremendous all-around performance off the bench by Warden, who contributed eight points, five assists, five rebounds (four offensive) and three assists.
The Tigers can clinch at least a share of the conference crown on Wednesday, but the opposition is a quality Earlham team that is currently in third place in the NCAC. Then on Saturday, Wittenberg travels to Wooster.