HOLLAND, Mich. - With plenty of new names on the roster, the Wittenberg women's basketball team kept a tradition alive by winning their season opener for the fifth consecutive season, this time with a 66-53 win over Robert Morris at the Hope College Tip-Off Tournament Friday night.
The familiar face of sophomore post Sarah Watson (Hudson, Ohio/Hudson) led the way in earning a 1-0 record to start the 2009-10 campaign with an impressive double-double effort, turning in 20 points and 11 rebounds. Watson's role on the court expanded in the absence of 2008-09 first team all-conference honoree Stephanie Boardman (Cincinnati, Ohio/McAuley), who was away for a medical school admission interview. She went 8-of-14 from the field, including 4-of-7 from three-point range.
Senior wing Carrie Dyer (Copley, Ohio/Copley) joined Watson in double-double territory with 14 points and 11 rebounds on the night, opening up the new season in style on the heels of an All-NCAC Second Team performance in 2008-09.
Though the game ended with a comfortable margin for the Tigers, Robert Morris controlled the first five minutes of the game. After the Eagles went out to a six-point lead, Wittenberg began to chip away, eventually turning the tables thanks to seven unanswered field goals heading to the break to extend a two-point lead out to 15.
In the second half, the Tigers' lead dipped below 10 only once, early in the period. Watson and Dyer each tallied seven points in the second half, and junior wingKatherine Hueter (Columbus, Ohio/Hilliard Darby) matched with seven points on her way to an 11-point, five-rebound night as the third and final Tiger in double figures.
Senior wing Elise Jenkins (Elida, Ohio/Elida) keyed the team's scoring with seven assists, though Wittenberg shot just 37.1 percent from the field and 29.6 percent from long range.
The Tigers return to the hardwood Saturday, Nov. 21, in the second game of the Hope College Tip-Off Tournament against the hosts, beginning at 3 p.m.
Written by: John Strawn '07