SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - The Wittenberg Tigers kicked off the new year by extending their winning streak to five in a row with a 71-51 home win over North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) rival Hiram.

The win was Wittenberg's 34th in 35 all-time meetings with Hiram, including 33 as members of the NCAC. The Tigers improved to 10-3 overall on the 2014-15 season, and 2-1 in the league, heading into a key early season showdown with Allegheny on Saturday.

After a slow start, the Tigers pulled out to a 9-2 lead and never looked back. The advantage swelled to 38-23 by halftime, and the Terriers were unable to draw any closer than seven points in the second half. Hiram's most significant challenge came on back-to-back three-pointers to cut the lead to 40-33, but the Tigers responded with an 11-0 burst to take command again.

Wittenberg shot 45 percent from the field, including a 6-of-18 showing from three-point range. The Tigers struggled from the free throw line, making 55 percent of their 20 attempts, but Wittenberg was dominant on the glass with a 51-36 rebounding advantage.

Senior Darbie Zirkle (St. Paris, Ohio/Graham) led all scorers with 20 points to go along with four rebounds, four steals and two assists. Senior Enri Small (Columbus, Ohio/Columbus School for Girls) added 19 points and three boards, while senior Katelyn Haralamos (Maineville, Ohio/Kings) contributed nine points, four assists and a season-best 14 rebounds.

The 10-3 start is Wittenberg's best since the 1997-98 season.

Written By: Ryan Maurer