Sarah Watson
ROCHESTER, NY — The Wittenberg Tigers couldn't keep a firm grip on the basketball as 36 turnovers negated a solid shooting performance in a 79-73 loss to Baruch in the first game of the Chuck Resler Tournament at the University of Rochester.
The loss dropped Wittenberg to 0-2 on the young season, while Baruch improved to 2-0. The Tigers will play in the consolation game at 1 p.m. Saturday against the loser of the first day's second game between Rochester and SUNY New Paltz.
The game started well enough for the Tigers, who moved out to a 25-16 lead at the 8:06 mark of the first half on a lay-up from freshman Enri Small (Columbus, Ohio/Columbus School for Girls). However, Baruch was helped by 10 Tiger turnovers over the final eight minutes of the first half to not only erase that deficit but build a three-point cushion of its own going into the locker room at halftime.
Wittenberg pulled back into a tie at 41-41 on a three-pointer by freshman Katelyn Haralamos (Maineville, Ohio/Kings) at the 16:39 mark, but Baruch scored the next seven points to take control again. The lead reached 13 points midway through the second half before a late push by the Tigers brought them to within four with 28 seconds left.
Wittenberg shot 49 percent from the field, including a solid 6-of-16 from three-point range, and the Tigers won the rebounding battle 42-36. The difference in the game was 36 turnovers by Wittenberg, compared to 19 for Baruch. All 11 Tiger players who entered the game made at least one ballhandling miscue.
Individually, senior Sarah Watson (Hudson, Ohio/Hudson) turned in a monster game of 26 points and 11 rebounds. Junior Kim Replogle (Houston, Ohio/Houston) added 10 points and six rebounds. Small contributed nine points and seven boards in 18 productive minutes off the bench, while Haralamos finished with nine points as well.