NORFOLK, Va. - For the first time since 2000, the Wittenberg Tigers captured a tip-off tournament championship, taking down Virginia Wesleyan in the championship of the Marlins' own tournament by a final score of 65-55.
The Tigers improved to 2-0 on the young season, a day after they opened the season with a heart-stopping 68-66 victory over the University of the Ozarks in the opener of the tournament. The last time Wittenberg opened the season 2-0 with a pair of wins in a tournament was 2000 when the Tigers captured first place at a competition at Greensboro College.
This year's title came compliments of junior post Kathy Hittle, who was unstoppable with 21 points and 15 rebounds. It was her second straight double-double to open the season, coming on the heels of 11 points and 10 boards in the win over the University of the Ozarks.
Junior guard Megan Miller helped open up some of those opportunities in the paint with four three-pointers and 15 points in the game. Junior wing Rachel Clark-Haggy added 10 points and senior point guard Brittany Landreth enjoyed an outstanding game with seven points, seven rebounds and five assists. The statistic that stands out above the others, however, is Landreth's turnovers. The Tigers' primary ballhandler committed just one in 20 minutes of action.
The Tigers trailed by as much as nine in the first half before finishing with a flourish on Miller's three-pointer to take a 30-28 advantage into the locker room. Virginia Wesleyan pulled into a tie at 44 with 7:59 remaining in the second half, but Wittenberg responded with a 16-6 run, keyed by six points from Hittle and four each from Clark-Haggy and Miller.