SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - The Wittenberg women's basketball team handed the only one-loss team in the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) its second loss of the season and of the series, defeating Ohio Wesleyan by a 62-56 final score. The Tigers remain the only unbeaten team in the league and take a commanding two-game lead in the NCAC with a 12-6 overall record and perfect 10-0 mark in league action after completing the season sweep of the Battling Bishops.
The win put important distance between Wittenberg and Ohio Wesleyan, the most likely challenger for the 2009-10 regular season conference title. With six games remaining in the season, all NCAC contests, the two-game pad represents a distinct advantage for the Tigers, who will face Denison, Hiram, Allegheny, Kenyon, Wooster and Earlham the rest of the way, teams which combine for a 19-31 record in conference matchups.
Wittenberg shot 47.1 percent for the game, their second-best clip of the season behind the season's first meeting with Ohio Wesleyan, in which the Tigers shot 53.6 percent from the floor. The difference in the game, however, came from Ohio Wesleyan's shot selection. As a team the Bishops shot 27 three-point attempts and made just eight, and from the floor Ohio Wesleyan shot 35.6 percent.
Senior wing Carrie Dyer (Copley, Ohio/Copley) led the charge with high-percentage shots, sinking 6-of-11 field goals and 1-of-2 free throws for 13 total points, matched with 10 rebounds for the game's only double-double. Dyer also racked up four assists and three steals in a team-high 34 minutes on the floor. Senior post Stephanie Boardman (Cincinnati, Ohio/McAuley) was right behind with 6-of-14 from the floor and 6-of-6 from the line to lead the team with 18 points. She added six rebounds to the mix.
Junior wing Katherine Hueter (Columbus, Ohio/Hilliard Darby) shared the team lead in rebounds with Dyer, each collecting 10, while sophomore post Sarah Watson (Hudson, Ohio/Hudson) contributed nine points and five rebounds. Senior guard Elise Jenkins (Elida, Ohio/Elida) had seven points and seven rebounds in the game.
The first of the remaining six games on the Tigers' schedule is again at home, a 7:30 p.m. tip-off with Denison on Feb. 2.
Written by: John Strawn '07