UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS – Freshman Mackenzie Campbell scored 25 points to lead the Wilmington College women's basketball team to the 67-57 victory over John Carroll Monday at the DeCarlo Center in the first round of the Ohio Athletic Conference tournament.
It marks the first time in seven meetings Wilmington has knocked off the Blue Streaks. However, WC is now 4-0 against the Blue Streaks in OAC tournament action.
The Fightin' Quakers advance to the quarterfinals to face Capital 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Capital Center. It will be the third straight season Wilmington travels to Bexley for the quarterfinals.
"Our players are really gaining confidence these last two, three weeks," said Wilmington head coach Jerry Scheve. "We know how good of a team Capital is. We caught them in a trap game a couple of weeks ago, and I know they will be ready tomorrow night."
Campbell (Cincinnati, OH/Turpin) and junior Brittaney Jefferson (Dayton, OH/Chaminade Julienne) combined for 11 points as Wilmington seized control with a 13-0 run midway through the third quarter. During this pivotal game-changing stretch, the Fightin' Quakers forced four turnovers and held the Blue Streaks to 0-for-7 shooting from the field.
"Once Brittaney got the steal and Mackenzie converted the three-point play, I thought we really relaxed and started playing well," said Scheve.
After a brief run in which John Carroll cut the WC lead to just two, the Wilmington defense stiffened again.
The Fightin' Quakers kept JCU without a field goal for the last minute of the third quarter and the first five minutes of the fourth quarter.
"Our defense was great tonight," said Scheve. "Ja'Cole Tabor had as good of a game as she has played in her career on both ends of the court. She drew the assignment of guarding (OAC leading scorer Katlyn) Spahar, and she did a phenomenal job."
The lead increased to nine points midway through the final period before John Carroll hit its first field goal of the fourth period. Wilmington converted nine straight free throws in the final two minutes to seal the game.
Campbell, who was named the OAC Player of the Week earlier Monday, shot 10-of-15 from the field and 5-of-7 from the foul line with eight rebounds. Jefferson finished with 15 points, four steals, two assists and two blocks.
Junior Mary Moyer (Martinsville, OH/Clinton Massie) pulled down a team-high nine boards and dished out a team-high three assists.
