Springfield, OH- Wittenberg stepped back on the court tonight in Pam Evans Smith Arena for their 2021-22 home opener against Illinois Wesleyan. This was the first time the Red & White saw the Titans in action in program history. The Tigers who were ranked number two in the NCAC pre-season poll were led by Head Coach Tamika Jeter in her first official game with Wittenberg. The Tigers look ahead to their 2021-22 season with a solid twelve returners with sights on a NCAC run.
The Tigers who went 5-3 in the 2020-21 season and 19-8 in the 2019-20 season returned key veterans to the court tonight in their 68-59 win over the Titans, including Abigail Yunker, Delaney Williams and Kristie Kalis.
Abigail Yunker, averaged 13.8 ppg in the 2020-21 season going 47.3% from the floor. Delaney Williams, saw action after recovering from a season ending injury. Williams in her last season of play picked up a total of 207 rebounds with 98 of those being defensive rebounds. Kalis is coming off of 16.4 ppg average last year, going 49% from the field. This group of veterans was joined by Jade Simpson in the season opener as leaders on the court.
Delaney Williams was able to get the first points on the board for the Tigers. Came back with two more on a foul shot opportunity for the first four points for the Red & White. While Jade Simpson grabbed the next opportunity for Wittenberg, to make it a one-point game. Simpson came back with two more points to keep the Tigers within reach with the Titans. Wittenberg ended the first quarter down 20-13. The Tigers went 5-8 for 27.8% from the field, 2-2 on foul shots and picked up 2 steals.
Kelsey Ragan got things started for Wittenberg in the second quarter with a three-point shot, assisted by McKenna Baker to bring the game within two. Jade Simpson beat everyone on the floor to get her eighth point of the game and bringing the score to 29-22 with Wittenberg trailing. Simpson got a final point for Wittenberg in the second quarter as the shot clock hit zero to take the Tigers into the locker room down 36-26. Tigers led in foul shots going 4-4. Wittenberg first half leaders included Simpson with ten points, Williams with four, and Yunker with four.
Wittenberg got a quick start in the third quarter with Jade Simpson scoring off of a rebound in the first minute. Aggressive Tiger offense brought the game within six after a defensive rebound from Yunker landed in the hands of Simpson who was able to put two more on the board. With eight straight points Wittenberg brought the game within two. The Red & White were able to take the lead for the first time with a three-point shot from Kristie Kalis making it 41-39 with four minutes to play in the third. Another three from Kalis kept the lead 44-42.
Kelsey Ragan picked up her first career points with Wittenberg's third straight three point shot to extend the Tigers lead by five. Aggressive offense allowed the Tigers to make a 15-point swing into the lead and went into the fourth quarter up 47-42, being led by Kalis. Senior, Abigail Yunker took over in the fourth quarter with two back-to-back three-point shots to extend the lead 56-48. Illinois Wesleyan defense pressured hard through the mid court but Wittenberg was able to handle pressure and continue to score, leading 59-51 with less than four to play in the game. The Tigers came back from a deficit to take down the Titans 68-59 for the Tigers first win of the season and Head Coach Tamika Jeter's first career win as a Tiger.
Wittenberg Leaders- The Tigers were led by Abigail Yunker with 18 points followed by Jade Simpson with 17 points and 8 rebounds, and Kristie Kalis with 14 and 7 rebounds.
Up Next- The Tigers will be back in action on November 17th against Muskingum. Wittenberg will be hitting the road for tip-off at 7:00PM.