Wittenberg Dominates Another NCAC Contender
Pure domination, with a statement that the Tigers are back on the prowl in the North Coast Athletic Conference. For the second straight game, the Wittenberg Tigers crushed a would-be contender for the 2005 NCAC regular season championship, this time hitting the road to dispose of the College of Wooster by a final score of 79-43.
WOOSTER, Ohio - Pure domination, with a statement that the Tigers are back on the prowl in the North Coast Athletic Conference. For the second straight game, the Wittenberg Tigers crushed a would-be contender for the 2005 NCAC regular season championship, this time hitting the road to dispose of the College of Wooster by a final score of 79-43.
It was over almost before it started as Wittenberg, in search of a fourth straight NCAC regular season title and the 11th since joining the conference in 1989, improved to 9-6 overall and 5-1 against NCAC foes. The Tigers scored the first five points of the game, and then after a Wooster basket, went on a stunning 24-0 run to essentially bury the homestanding Scots. The margin was 48-16 by halftime and the lead was at least 26 throughout the final 20 minutes.
Wooster, which dropped to 7-7 overall and 4-3 in the NCAC, made just 7-of-28 shots in the first half en route to 33 percent shooting from the field in the game. It got no better for the Scots, who were led Carly Loehrke's 14 points, from three-point range (3-of-13) or the free throw line (6-of-13). The Scots are now 16-35 all-time against Wittenberg, including a current 17-game losing streak.
Wittenberg, which stunned previously unbeaten Kenyon 64-35 at home on Wednesday, got 16 points and five rebounds from freshman post Katie Gregorevich, who continues to show signs of becoming a significant inside force for the Tigers. Freshman guard Ellie Stonecash and senior guard Emilie Schmid also reached double figures in scoring with 13 and 11 points respectively as 13 players saw action and 10 of them scored at least two points. Also of note was the play of sophomore post Kathy Hittle with eight points and a game-high nine rebounds and junior post Joyce Dindo with six points and seven boards off the bench.
Wittenberg, which won the rebounding battle by a whopping 22 caroms and forced 25 Wooster turnovers, will put its four-game win streak on the line Wednesday at Denison. The Big Red ended a 36-game NCAC regular season win streak for the Tigers on Dec. 1 in Springfield, so the Tigers figure to have plenty of motivation. In addition, Denison is among a crowded leader board in the early going of the 2005 NCAC regular season title chase.