OBERLIN, Ohio — The Wittenberg women's basketball team opened a women's/men's doubleheader at Oberlin on Saturday with a close 64-67 loss, falling to 9-10 on the season and 4-4 in the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC).
The game represented the first victory for Oberlin (7-12, 2-5 NCAC) over the Tigers in exactly 11 years, the last coming on Jan. 29, 2000, a 75-56 decision.
Saturday's loss comes after the Tigers dispatched the Yeowomen 67-56 earlier this season on Jan. 5.
After Wittenberg took the first lead on two free throws from freshman guard Jaclyn Willoughby (Sidney, Ohio/Houston), Oberlin and Wittenberg battled to a 7-7 tie four minutes into the game. The Yeowomen scored the next six points and went on to build their lead to as many as 17 points.
Oberlin led by 11 points entering halftime, but on the other side of the break, Wittenberg reeled the Yeowomen back in, starting with a three-pointer from senior wing Katherine Hueter (Columbus, Ohio/Hilliard Darby) that followed a block by freshman post Cassie Whitley (Xenia, Ohio/Xenia).
The Tigers fought back over the next 10 minutes to within three points, but when Oberlin got back to a seven-point lead with 42 seconds left in the game it was too far out of reach, despite a made free throw and subsequent three-pointer from Willoughby, both within the last 13 seconds.
Headlining the upset win for the Yeowomen was 2009-10 NCAC Newcomer of the Year Allison Anderson, who scored 25 points, including 14 in the second half. Anderson is averaging 17.2 points per game this season and last year broke Oberlin's single-season assists record with 146.
The Tigers were paced by junior wing Lauren Cassel (Columbus, Ohio/Dublin Coffman) for the first time in her career with 13 points on 5-of-6 shooting, including 1-of-1 from long range and 2-of-2 at the line. Cassel also hauled in five rebounds and dished out four assists in a solid overall outing.
Junior post Sarah Watson (Hudson, Ohio/Hudson) led the Tigers on the boards with seven and hit three three-pointers to finish with 11 points, while Hueter matched her in scoring and added five rebounds and three blocks, part of a team season-best eight total blocks.
Whitley provided one of the blocks along with three assists and four rebounds.
Willoughby also finished in double figures with 10 points, earned mostly at the stripe on a 7-of-8 performance. Sophomore post Kim Replogle (Houston, Ohio/Houston) contributed six rebounds.
John Strawn '07