The Wittenberg women's basketball team needed some time in the 2005-06 season to find the right player combinations. That has worked out quite well, thank you, and the result is a North Coast Athletic Conference regular season championship.
The Tigers claimed at least a share of that title last week with a pair of impressive 77-58 victories - one at home against Earlham and one on the road against rival Ohio Wesleyan. Now with 12 wins in its last 13 games, Wittenberg stands at 17-6 overall and 13-1 in the NCAC, two games clear of second-place Allegheny.
The Tigers are already guaranteed home court advantage for the NCAC Tournament, however, by virtue of their two wins this season against Allegheny. It is Wittenberg's fourth NCAC regular season title in the last five years and the Tigers' conference-best 11th overall.
In last week's victories, the Tigers continued to display an improved offensive attack with an emphasis on post play. Junior wing Rachel Clark-Haggy (South Charleston, Ohio/Southeastern) had the hot hand, following up on her first career double-double in a 57-54 victory at Allegheny on Feb. 4 with a combined 36 points and 15 rebounds. Her week started with a career-high 20 points against Earlham.
In recognition of her efforts, Clark-Haggy earned the first NCAC Player of the Week award of her collegiate career.
While Clark-Haggy was doing the majority of her damage with a mid-range offensive game, drives to the basket and putback shots, the Tigers' post trio of junior Kathy Hittle (Noblesville, Ind./Noblesville) and sophomores Ali Rohlfs (Cincinnati, Ohio/Mount Notre Dame) and Katie Gregorevich (Northfield, Ohio/Walsh Jesuit) was also making huge contributions, primarily in the paint. Hittle was a particular force in the OWU win, finishing with 17 points and a career high 17 rebounds, Rohlfs had 20 points in the two games and Gregorevich finished with nine rebounds in each game.
Hittle, a 2005 first-team All-NCAC honoree, also recently was named second-team CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District IV in recognition of her outstanding performance both on the court and in the classroom.
Wittenberg rounds out the regular season with a road game Wednesday at 2005 NCAC champion Kenyon and a home game Saturday against Wooster. The NCAC Tournament opens with quarterfinal games hosted by higher seeded teams on Tuesday, Feb. 21. Wittenberg has hosted a quarterfinal game every year thanks to a string of 17 straight top-three regular season finishes.