HIRAM, Ohio — The Wittenberg Tigers used an 11-0 run midway through the first half to get on top of the host Hiram Terriers and they never looked back. The end result was an 86-63 North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) victory that allowed Wittenberg to remain in a tie for second place in the regular season title chase.
The Tigers improved to 11-9 overall but, more importantly, 10-3 in the NCAC with the win. Hiram fell to 3-17 overall and 1-11 in the conference.
While the first half burst secured the lead for the Tigers, it certainly didn't secure the victory. The Terriers fought back from a 10-point halftime deficit to close to within six points early in the second half before another Wittenberg run put the game out of reach. A 10-0 run, including six points from sophomore post Stephanie Boardman (Cincinnati, Ohio/McAuley), between the 6:41 and 4:02 of the second half ballooned an 11-point Wittenberg advantage into a 21-point lead.
Wittenberg, which has never lost to Hiram since the Terriers joined the NCAC in 2000, was paced by Boardman's game-high 23 points off the bench. She hit 8-of-12 shots from the floor and 7-of-8 from the free throw line to go along with eight rebounds, including five at the offensive end.
Boardman was joined in double figures offensively by sophomore wing Carrie Dyer (Copley, Ohio/Copley), who contributed 18 points, eight rebounds and five assists, senior post Katie Gregorevich (Northfield, Ohio/Walsh Jesuit), who added 10 points, five assists, four rebounds and three steals, and senior wing Ellie Stonecash (Springboro, Ohio/Middletown Fenwick), who nailed 4-of-5 shots from the field to finish with 10 points.
The win sets up an important home game Wednesday against NCAC contender Ohio Wesleyan, which beat the Tigers just two weeks ago. The game is Wittenberg's Think Pink Night, and it will include a special tribute to cancer survivors and efforts to raise breast cancer awareness.