Women's hoops improves defense, can't find a way past Wittenberg
Katie Tuttle, Editor-in-Chief
Issue date: 2/4/10 Section: Sports
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In the previous meeting between the conference powers, the Bishops lost 80-83, but vastly improved defensive play kept the Tiger offense in check.
Ohio Wesleyan took a 34-31 and the momentum into the half after a 3-point play by junior forward Kayla Gordon.
"The first half was one of the finest halves we've played this season," said Head coach Nan Carney-DeBord. "We took care of the basketball and found the open player."
After the positive first half for the Bishops moving the ball, Wittenberg switched to zone defense, cutting off lanes to the basket and frustrating the Bishops offensive attack.
A 3-pointer by freshman guard Kathryn Schaefer with only 13 minutes left in the game was the team's first basket in the second half.
Senior guard Rachel Seibel added a 3-pointer tying the game at 41 with 12:47 to play in regulation but Witt's Star forward Stephanie Boardman tied the game with a pair of free throws at the 3:57 mark, then took the lead for the Tigers with 2 more free throws with 2:24 to play. Another Wittenberg lay-in added to lead, making it 56-52.
A 60-54 Wittenberg lead with :54 to go was challenged by 2 Cordell free throws, but another Boardman lay-up with :19 to play put the Bishops away
Carney-DeBord said despite the loss, she was pleased with Saturday's performance.
"Ohio Wesleyan women's basketball players are fierce competitors," she said. "They work endless hours to compete at the highest level. They competed well on Saturday."
Junior point guard Pamela Quigney said she also feels the team did better against Wittenberg this time than their last meeting.
"We did a very good job on defense," she said. "That was our focus all week in practice. We gave 83 points last time we played them and only 62 this time. We also did a good job of doubling in the post and giving Boardman a hard time."
Along with the defensive-minded practice, Carney-DeBord said the team did a lot of mental preparation for this game.
"We work on mental preparation daily," she said.
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