First Loss Of Season Comes In Double Overtime At Alma

Springfield, Ohio - On the same day that the Wittenberg women's basketball team made its first appearance in the national rankings since the end of the 2003-04 season, the Tigers were unable to make an early lead stand up in a 97-95 double overtime loss at Alma.

The loss dropped Wittenberg, which had defeated two nationally ranked opponents in its first three games, to 3-1. Earlier in the day, Wittenberg entered the national WBCA poll at #19. Alma improved to 3-2.

The Tigers got off to a strong start and built a nine-point lead by the end of the first quarter, but Alma battled back in the second to go into halftime down just one. The two teams battled through what turned out to be four additional periods of basketball before Alma secured the hard-fought two-point win.

Once again, Wittenberg took good care of the basketball, committing just 11 turnovers in the game, half the amount committed by Alma. But the Scots got the best of things on the boards with a 38-32 rebounding advantage, and Alma hit six more three-pointers in the game, keyed by guard Taylor Sas and her 39 points. Sas hit seven three-pointers in the game, and she was a perfect 10-for-10 from the free throw line.

Wittenberg put five players in double figures, led by freshman Madi Barnett (Cincinnati, Ohio/Kings) with a career-best 21 points in 35 minutes off the bench. She also led the Tigers in assists with four.

Junior Jazmyn Gaines-Burns (Bladensburg, Maryland/Elizabeth Seton) added 18 points and senior Jade Simpson (Edgewood, Kentucky/Holy Cross) finished with 17 points and team-high 10 rebounds. Junior Kelsey Ragan (Whitehouse, Ohio/Anthony Wayne) chipped in with 12 points, and senior Evie Wolshire (Lancaster, Ohio/Fairfield Union) rounded out the top offensive contributors with 11 points.