GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Wittenberg University played hard, and much better in the second half, but the Tigers never led and eventually surrendered a 72-64 decision to Tri-State University in the championship game of the Calvin College Tournament. The loss dropped the Tigers to 3-3 overall on the still-young 2002-03 season, while Tri-State improved to 4-6 overall.
Wittenberg was done in by a slow start and an inability to hit from the outside. The Tigers fell behind by as much as 19 points in the first half while shooting just 30 percent from the field, including a perfect 0-for-6 from three-point range. In the second half, Wittenberg got the lead down to four on a couple occasions in the final minutes, but they never got it down to a one-possession lead.
The Tigers got 17 points off the bench from junior guard Amber Bishop (Batavia, Ohio/Batavia and a season-high 14 points and six rebounds from senior center Rebecca Meers (Moline, Ill./Moline). Also reaching double figures in scoring were junior forward Haley Warden (Loveland, Ohio/Indian Hill) with 11 points and seven boards and senior guard Stephanie Campbell (South Charleston, Ohio/Southeastern) with 10 points, her sixth straight game in 2002-03 in double figures.
Wittenberg has a week off to recuperate before welcoming in nationally ranked DePauw at 5 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 14.