After ending John Carroll's season last season in the first round of the Ohio Athletic Conference tournament, Wilmington head coach Jerry Scheve claimed the Blue Streaks "has the largest group of good young players in the league."
That young talent is now experienced and causing problems. The Blue Streaks, a team with no seniors, bring a four-game winning streak into Fred Raizk Arena at Hermann Court 3 p.m. Saturday. They are 9-3 overall, 2-3 in the OAC. However, JCU's three losses are to Mount Union, Ohio Northern and Capital. The three teams have a combined two losses in league action.
John Carroll is coming off a 79-60 victory Tuesday at Muskingum, while the Lady Quakers haven't played since beating Heidelberg on December 22.
"A year ago, I thought they had the best young talent in the league and I think its showing up right now," said Scheve. "They run well and they are a balanced team. They have an outstanding point guard (junior Allie Lustig) and a good post player (junior Missy Spahar)."
Spahar comes into the game averaging a team-high 15.3 points and a league-high 9.4 rebounds, however, she is only scoring 9.8 in the teams five OAC games. Lustig is scoring 10.5 points with 4.5 assists, which is second in the league – temporarily. The league leader with 5.0 apg, freshman Erin Mog, is out for the season.
Sophomore guard Beth Switler is helping the Blue Streaks' rebounding efforts with 7.3 rpg, good for fourth in the league.
Wilmington may have to knock some rust off its game as they step on the hardwood competitively for the first time in two weeks. The time could have been used to help fix what ails the Lady Quakers' offense. WC enters the game last in the league in scoring (60.8 ppg) and in field goal percentage (.350). The Lady Quakers have been successful due to their work on the glass. They are leading the OAC in rebounding margin (+7.5), offensive rebounds (16.3) and total rebounds (45).
While the rebounding has been the main consistent aspect, Wilmington has consistently found a way to pull out close victories – and Saturday's game could shape up to be another barn barner.
"We will have to overcome whatever we are not doing well at that time," said Scheve. "We will have to play hard, play smart and play together. We are a team that has found a way to win tough games."
Seniors Brianna Peters (Alexandria, KY/Campbell County) and LeAnn Topp (New Bremen, OH/New Bremen) have picked up their output since the start of conference play. Peters is averaging 14.6 points and 6.8 rebounds in league games, while Topp is recording 10.2 points with 7.8 boards.
Sophomore Spencer Robles (Clyde, OH/Clyde) continues to be Wilmington's top shooting threat, converting a team-high 22 three-points, while shooting 39 percent from behind the arc. She is especially dangerous at Raizk Arena, converting 44 percent from the land of three.