Tiger Women's Basketball Overcomes Slow Start To Beat Wooster

Madi Barnett Wittenberg Women's Basketball
Madi Barnett | Photo by John Coffman

SPRINGFIELD, OH - Wittenberg Women's Basketball absorbed a few early punches from visiting Wooster but recovered from a slow start to pull away for an 83-55 North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) victory.

The win moved the Tigers to 10-3 overall and 2-0 in the NCAC, heading into a week off before a road trip to preseason league favorite Ohio Wesleyan, which is ranked in the top 10 nationally with a 10-2 record currently. Wooster dropped to 2-10 overall and 0-2 in the league.

Wooster dominated the boards in the first quarter, holding a 10-3 rebounding advantage through the first 10 minutes, while shooting better than 50% from the field, highlighted by four straight three-pointers to open the game by Ella Dean. The Scots by as many as eight points in the first quarter before the Tigers finally got on track, outscoring the visitors 22-10 in the second quarter to take a 39-32 lead into the locker room at halftime.

The second half was all Wittenberg as the Tigers outscored Wooster 44-23 to secure their 14th straight win in the series. Overall, Wittenberg holds a commanding 73-13 lead in the series.

Taryn Cash (Cincinnati, OH / Princeton) led the way for Wittenberg with 16 points and six assists in the game, while Riane Burton (Houston, TX / Cypress Ranch) added 14 points and nine rebounds. Karsen Karlblom (Crystal Lake, IL / Prairie Ridge) was the only other Tiger in double figure, as she contributed 10 points on an efficient 4-of-5 shooting to go along with a game-high four steals.

Karley Moore (Tipp City, OH / Bethel) added eight points off the bench, and Madi Barnett (Cincinnati, OH / Kings) chipped in with seven points and three assists, while Kelsey Ragan (Whitehouse, OH / Anthony Wayne) finished with seven points on a perfect 3-of-3 shooting.