Wittenberg's Stephanie Boardman looks for room to shoot past Megan Smith (40) and Brittany Sparks (3) of Mount St. Joseph.
SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - The Wittenberg Tigers women's basketball team shook off more than three weeks of rust as they picked up a win in the first round of the Charles B. Zimmerman Memorial Classic with by a 67-55 score over the College of Mount St. Joseph. A 17-2 run over the final seven minutes of the first half helped the Tigers put distance between themselves and the Lions.
Over the course of the early minutes, the Tigers and the Lions looked to find their rhythm after long holiday layoffs. Junior post Stephanie Boardman (Cincinnati, Ohio/McAuley) helped break the Red and White out of their offensive funk as she compiled 11 of her 14 points in the first half.
In spite of Lion runs in the second half, Wittenberg found offense from a number of different sources, including a strong outing from Victoria Leali (Jackson, Ohio/Jackson), who finished with 10 points for a season-high performance. Junior wing Carrie Dyer (Copley, Ohio/Copley) also landed in double-figures for the Tigers, as she tallied 11 points on the afternoon. Joining sophomore wing Katherine Hueter (Columbus, Ohio/Hilliard Darby) with 12 points, Wittenberg finished with four players in double-digit scoring for the first time this season.
The Mount closed to within eight on numerous occasions in the second half, but could get no closer. Megan Smith led the way for the Lions with 12 points on the afternoon. However, four players fouled out for the Lions, slowing their hopes for a comeback. The Tigers forced 32 MSJ miscues and helped their offense draw 37 free throw attempts to help control the game.
Wittenberg moves to 5-3 on the season, as well as onto the Zimmerman championship game against UW-Oshkosh. Game time is set for 5:30 p.m. from Pam Evans Smith Arena. Mount St. Joseph will take on Alma College in the consolation game at 12:30 p.m.
Written By: Ben Bradley, SID Assistant