SPRINGFIELD, Ohio — No matter the circumstances, Wittenberg and Wooster will play each other hard. Saturday's women's basketball contest was no different as the two injury-riddled squads battled in a lopsided 82-52 victory for the Tigers.
It was not hard to predict that Wittenberg would take the W in this game, nor was it hard to predict that despite being large favorites in the game, the Tigers would need to come out fighting. The team compensated for injuries to four different guards with a rotation heavy with posts and wings and a fast, streamlined offense. Wooster's frequent switch from man-to-man to zone and back could not stop the momentum of Wittenberg's best overall offensive outing of the season.
Leading the way for the 12th time in 2007-08, senior post Katie Gregorevich (Northfield, Ohio/Walsh Jesuit) delivered 16 points in just 19 minutes, matching her second-lowest total playing time on the season. She added a team-high seven rebounds as well. Sophomore wing Carrie Dyer (Copley, Ohio/Copley) joined Gregorevich at the 16-point plateau to share the game lead in scoring, while contributing six rebounds, three assists and a steal, in her first outing since being named the North Coast Athletic Conference's Player of the Week.
Wittenberg lept out of the gates with an 11-0 run to start the game, and the pace never changed. In a surprise move, Wittenberg Head Coach Sarah Jurewicz substituted most of her bench in with 4:30 remaining in the first half, after the main rotation of players had built a 37-7 lead. In the last four minutes, fans were treated to glimpse of the talent to look forward to in the next few years when a quartet of bench players, led by Amber Burton (Manchester, Ohio/Manchester), took the floor and continued the quality basketball.
Burton herself scored seven points in nine minutes, picking up four rebounds and an assist as well. Burton and her underclass companions took the Tigers to the intermission with a 48-15 lead.
The second half saw a more tenacious Wooster, but Wittenberg held them at bay to maintain the 30-point margin. On the game, Wittenberg dominated every statistical category, including one of their best shooting performances of the year, nailing 50.8% of their field goals. The Tigers ruled the boards, taking 42 rebounds compared to 27 for the Scots. Wittenberg also churned out 26 assists on 30 baskets, while forcing 19 turnovers out of Wooster and holding them to eight assists.
Stephanie Boardman (Cincinnati, Ohio/McAuley) notched 13 points on the day, continuing her strong play this season. The Tigers have a week off before getting back to action Saturday hosting Oberlin in the last regular season game, including senior night honors.
Wittenberg, which closes the 2007-08 regular season with a home game against Oberlin on Feb. 23, improved to 12-10 overall and 11-4 in the NCAC, good for a share of second place. Wooster, which lost by 32 points at Wittenberg earlier in the season, fell to 6-16 and 3-10.
Written by: John Strawn