SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - For the first time in the history of the North Coast Athletic Conference Women's Basketball Tournament, the No. 1 seeded team lost in the semifinals as the Wittenberg Tigers dropped a 52-37 decision to visiting Kenyon.
The Tigers likely saw their 2005-06 season come to an end with a 19-8 overall record. Champions of the NCAC regular season for the fourth time in the last five years, Wittenberg lost for the second time in three meetings with Kenyon this season. The Tigers put together a 14-2 record in the NCAC regular season, but their dominating post play met its match against the defensive-minded Ladies, who won last year's NCAC regular season title and were the preseason conference favorite in 2005-06.
Both teams got off to a slow start, and most of the game was something of a slugfest. There was just one lead change, that coming on a three-pointer by Kenyon's Alisha Moreno at the 8:16 mark of the first half, giving the Ladies a 17-16 advantage. Kenyon slowly stretched the lead through the end of the first half as the Tigers couldn't find the offensive range, taking a 23-19 advantage into the locker room.
In the second half, Wittenberg crawled back to a 33-33 tie on a three-pointer by junior wing Megan Miller at the 9:47 mark. But Kenyon scored the next four points and fended off every Wittenberg advance from that point. Over the game's excrutiating final eight minutes, the Tigers did not score a point as the Ladies extended the lead from 40-37 to the final of 52-37.
Wittenberg shot a miserable 28 percent from the field for the game, including just 3-of-16 from three-point range. The Tigers even struggled at the free throw line, making just 10-of-18 and missing several front ends of one-and-one opportunities. Kenyon shot 45 percent from the field and committed five less turnovers.
The Ladies were paced by Katy Zeanah with 15 points and four rebounds and Eva George with 12 points and four boards in 19 productive minutes off the bench. Kenyon lost in the NCAC Tournament championship game a year ago against Denison, but the Ladies will have another shot at the Big Red at 3 p.m. Saturday in Wittenberg's HPER Center.
Wittenberg was paced offensively by sophomore post Katie Gregorevich and juniot wing Rachel Clark-Haggy with six points apiece, while Gregorevich was the high rebounder for either side with eight. Junior post Kathy Hittle, Wittenberg's leading scorer and rebounder, was harrassed into just four points - eight below her average - and seven rebounds before fouling out late in the game.