The Wilmington College women's basketball team scored 15 of the last 17 points to escape with the 63-56 win over Muskingum Wednesday in Ohio Athletic Conference at Fred Raizk Arena in Hermann Court.
"It wasn't the prettiest game, but ultimately, it's a victory," said Wilmington head coach Jerry Scheve. "In the first half we didn't play very well, and when you combine that with missing shots, it looks really bad. We were missing the open shots we got, and weren't playing well in other aspects of the game. The last couple of minutes of the first half allowed us to cut it down to a manageable number, and then just fought all the way in the second half."
With the Fightin' Quakers trailing by six with five minutes remaining in the game, they mounted a critical comeback. Wilmington smothered MU as the Muskies missed 11 straight field goal attempts and finished 1-of-13 down the stretch.
Wilmington started the run by making four free throws, and then senior Spencer Robles (Clyde, OH/Clyde) knotted the game with a driving layup. Freshman Ellie Kivell (Hamilton, OH/Lakota East) gave WC the lead it wouldn't relinquish with a three-pointer from the top of the key. The three capped a span in which the Fightin' Quakers hit 4-of-6 from beyond the arc.
It was part of a 6-of-12 span from the three-point range in the second half. Wilmington was just 3-of-9 in the first half.
The play of the three seniors – Robles, Courtney Tucker (Cincinnati, OH/Sycamore) and Kirsten Glick (Arcadia, OH/Arcadia) – was pivotal in the victory. Playing in their final regular season home game, the trio combined for 30 points, 15 rebounds and five assists.
"Our seniors were our leaders on the court tonight from the beginning to the end," said Scheve. "They all had outstanding games, and they all kind of did their things. Kirsten was outstanding defensively, just a solid basketball player for us. Spencer hits some big three's and was our leading rebounder tonight, mainly through her hustle. Courtney was energized from the very beginning. Whatever energy we had in the first half, came from her."
The game-ending run helped salvage senior night festivities and secure the fifth seed in the upcoming Ohio Athletic Conference tournament.
With the play choppy in the first half, thanks in part to 27 foul calls, Wilmington struggled. The Fightin' Quakers missed 10 of their first 11 shots, managed to hit just 25 percent (5-of-25) from the field over the first 20 minutes.
"That's the other thing that makes you feel like your aren't playing very good," said Scheve. "When you are not making shots, not scoring, and the clock keeps stopping – it gets frustrating. Some days we don't commit any fouls and other days we commit a bunch of them. Our players have to learn to make adjustments and we did in the second half."
After committing 13 fouls in the first half, Wilmington was whistled for just five in the second.
WC trailed by as much as 12 in the first half, but a three-pointer by sophomore Brittaney Jefferson (Dayton, OH/Chaminade Julienne) and a basket by freshman Emily Harman (Versailles, OH/Versailles) enabled Wilmington to trail by just seven at half.
Tucker led the way with 14 points, four rebounds, four assists, four steals and a block, while Robles added 11 points, and a team-high seven boards. Sophomore Hannah Haeseker (Germantown, OH/Valley View) tabulated eight points and six rebounds.
Wilmington (14-10 overall, 9-8 OAC) wraps up the regular season 3 p.m. Saturday against Mount Union.