NEW CONCORD – In a game that was tight throughout, the Wilmington College women's basketball team opened Ohio Athletic Conference action with a 65-52 victory over Muskingum Wednesday.

"It was a hard fought game throughout," said Wilmington head coach Jerry Scheve. "We built a lead and they started making shots to get back in the game. I thought (freshman) Hannah Haeseker made a couple of big shots for us. I thought the key was that we never lost the lead. We were always ahead."

The Fightin' Quakers seemed ready to pull away from the home team with a 15-5 run the spanned the end of the first half and beginning of the second.

Junior Spencer Robles (Clyde, OH/Clyde) hit two straight three-pointers sandwiched around a Muskingum free throw to get the rally going. As the half transitioned to the second, seniors Haley Howard (Uhrichsville, OH/New Philadelphia) and Makenzie Wippel (Orient, OH/Westfall) brought the spurt home, and WC led by 15 with 14:28 remaining.

But as soon as Wilmington started living comfortably, the Muskies showed they wouldn't be reeled in so easily. The hosts answered by scoring 16 of the next 18 points, pulling them to within one.

"We didn't play bad during the run," said Scheve. "I thought we kept our composure, and played solid all the way through."

Robles stemmed the tide with an offensive rebound and putback, and then freshman Hannah Haeseker (Germantown, OH/Valley View) gave Wilmington some breathing room with a three-pointer. MC retaliated with a quick five points to pull back to within one, but Wippel drilled a three-pointer that ignited a game-clinching 13-0 run.

Howard tied a career-high with 21 points on 5-of-14 from the field and 11-of-13 from the free throw line, and she tied a career-high with eight assists. Robles also established career bests in points (19) and rebounds (9) in the victory.

"We expect Spencer to make shots," said Scheve. "But what was even better to see was she was our leading rebounder with nine. That was a big factor in the game."

Wippel recorded double figures with 12 points as the trio combined for 52 of the team's 65 points.

Wilmington (3-3 overall, 1-0 OAC) hosts Marietta 3 p.m. Saturday.