SPRINGFIELD, Ohio — After losing three games by four points or less earlier in the 2008-09 season - despite having multiple opportunities to score clutch baskets in the waning moments in each instance - the Wittenberg Tigers showed some spunk down the stretch as they pulled out a 73-72 victory over visiting Ohio Wesleyan.
The win, earned the hard way on a runner on the left side of the lane by sophomore wing Katherine Hueter (Columbus, Ohio/Hilliard Darby) with three seconds left, moved the Tigers into sole possession of second place in the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) at 6-2. Overall, Wittenberg improved to 11-5, while Ohio Wesleyan dropped to 9-8 overall and 5-3 in the NCAC.
Hueter's heroics were made possible by the career day turned in by junior postStephanie Boardman (Cincinnati, Ohio/McAuley), who struck for a career-high 31 points to go along with nine rebounds. She hit 13-of-22 shots from the field and 5-of-8 from the free throw line, and a phenomenal six of her nine rebounds were at the offensive end. Boardman scored 16 points in the first half and 15 in the second.
Boardman's last two points of the game gave Wittenberg a 69-68 lead with 2:02 left. Ohio Wesleyan's Pam Quigney responded with two free throws, but junior wing Carrie Dyer (Copley, Ohio/Copley) found a lane and made a lay-up with 1:02 left to give the Tigers a 71-70 edge. It stayed that way until nine seconds remained, when OWU's Rachel Seibel made an off-balance jumper in the lane while getting fouled. After she missed the free throw, the Tigers had a chance to set up the final play, and Hueter made the most of it, taking a pass at midcourt and driving to within about 10 feet before dropping in a soft jumper.
Hueter finished with a double-double of 10 points and a game-high 12 rebounds, while Dyer added 10 points and five rebounds. Also of note was the play of junior wing Victoria Leali (Jackson, Ohio/Jackson) with nine points off the bench, including a clutch second-half three-pointer, two assists and two steals.
Quigney led OWU with 23 points, while Kayla Gordon added 15 and Katie Hamilton 13 before fouling out late in the second half. The Battling Bishops became just the second team in 2008-09 to outrebound Wittenberg, taking the battle of the boards 45-40. OWU also got the better of the turnover statistical column as Wittenberg committed 20 to the Bishops' 15. Statistically, the game was won with Wittenberg's season-high 50.8 percent shooting from the field (31-of-61), compared to 38 percent on 10 more shots by OWU.
The Tigers continue the most crucial stretch of their season to date with a road trip to Denison on Wednesday, Jan. 28. The Big Red, unbeaten in the NCAC, defeated Wittenberg by four points on Dec. 6 in Springfield.