Unfazed by fullcourt pressure, the Wilmington College women's basketball team consistently beat the Heidelberg press to the tune of 24 fastbreak points in recording the 80-51 Ohio Athletic Conference victory at Fred Raizk Arena in Hermann Court.
It was the first time since February 1, 2012, the Fightin' Quakers eclipsed the 80-point plateau.
Wilmington moved to .500 on the season at 6-6 overall and 3-2 in the OAC, while Heidelberg falls to 9-3 overall, 2-3 in the OAC. WC will have a week off before returning to the hardwood with a road contest against John Carroll 3 p.m. Saturday.
"I thought we did a really good job of attacking their pressure," said Wilmington head coach Jerry Scheve. "They like to press 100 percent of the time, and the fact we were able to push the ball up the court easily was the key for us. We looked a lot closer to the team I want to have today than in quite a while. Eighty points is what we want to average, and that is the first time we hit that point this year. We want to be a really good transition team, and today we were."
Senior Makenzie Wippel (Orient, OH/Westfall) and freshman Hannah Haeseker (Germantown, OH/Valley View) each recorded their first double-doubles on the season. Wippel led the team with 15 points and 10 rebounds, while Haeseker added 10 points and a career-high 11 boards.
"Not only did they control the boards, but we were able to throw the ball to them inside, and they were able to score," said Scheve. "That is what loosened up the outside. We were able to get some easy baskets inside, and then got some wide open three's late in the game."
Wilmington used an 8-0 run and 9-0 spurt over the last 10 minutes of the first half to open up a 17-point advantage, and took a 15-point lead into halftime. Three-pointers by Haeseker and junior Spencer Robles (Clyde, OH/Clyde) sparked each of the runs.
The Fightin' Quakers put the game away three points at time as they scored 16 of 22 points a three-minute stretch. Haeseker got it going with a three, and then a three-point play by senior Haley Howard (Uhrichsville, OH/New Philadelphia) kept it going, and it was capped by consecutive three-pointers by Robles.
Howard finished with a team-high 16 points and six rebounds as five players reached double digits. Robles was 4-of-5 from beyond the arc to secure 12 points and freshman Brittaney Jefferson (Dayton, OH/Chaminade Julienne) recorded 12 points with a team-high four steals.
"Spencer is a key player for us," said Scheve. "No matter how she shoots, we tell her to keep shooting. If she could ever develop that attitude, she will consistently be a good player for us."
