SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - The Wittenberg Tigers were dominating in every phase of the game Friday night, crushing North Coast Athletic Conference rival Hiram 91-37 at the HPER Center. The win moved Wittenberg to within two games of claiming at least a share of the conference regular season title for a second straight year and three games of clinching the championship outright and home court advantage in the NCAC tournament as well.
Wittenberg, which improved to 16-4 overall and 11-0 in the NCAC, got a career night from junior guard Amber Bishop (Batavia, Ohio/Batavia). 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 record held by two other players, and the 12 straight baskets set a new mark. No one had previously made more than 11 consecutive.
The only other player in double figures was senior forward Tiffany Keller (Massillon, Ohio/Tuslaw), who finished with 15 points in 16 minutes. Another player who had an outstanding all-around game was junior forward Haley Warden (Loveland, Ohio/Indian Hill), who recorded two points, four steals, five assists and six rebounds (five offensive) in just 10 minutes on the court.
Hiram, which fell to 1-19 overall and 0-11 in the conference, got 17 points and six rebounds from Terra Roane in a losing effort. The Terriers were forced into a whopping 44 turnovers, 25 in the first half alone, and shot just 32 percent from the field. Wittenberg dominated on the boards as well, collecting 46 rebounds to Hiram's 24, including 26 offensive caroms.
The Tigers are right back at it tomorrow afternoon in a game that will be televised on tape delay by Time Warner Cable in the Dayton area. Allegheny, which is in second place in the NCAC at 8-3, comes calling for a 2 p.m. tip-off at the HPER Center.