WILMINGTON, Ohio – The Wilmington College women's basketball team continues Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) play with a trip to the University of Mount Union on Saturday. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m.
The Teams: Wilmington and Mount Union. The Fightin' Quakers stand at 6-13 overall and 2-9 in conference competition after a narrow 51-47 defeat at home to Capital University on Tuesday evening. The Purple Raiders are 6-11 on the season and 3-8 in OAC games after a 66-51 loss to Ballace University on Wednesday evening.
The Coaches: Wilmington is under the direction of second-year Head Coach Janel Blankespoor, who is in her fourth season with the program having been interim coach during the 2020-21 season and the program's top assistant the two years prior. The 2007 Otterbein College alumna spent stints at Mount Union and Earlham College before coming to Wilmington. Suzy Venet, a former All-American and 1998 alumna, is in her 17th season coaching her alma mater. The Purple Raiders have qualified for four NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Tournaments in her tenure.
The Players: Zahrya Bailey and Kennedy Lewis combine to score nearly 20 points and nine rebounds a game to lead Wilmington in both categories while Kenzie Campbell, Brooke Davis and Haley Cook all score over half-a-dozen points per game. Cook also helps in the rebounding department to the tune of 4.2 per game. Emma Cannon leads Mount Union in scoring at 13.2 points per game while Isi Palamone scores 9.4 points and 6.5 boards per 40 minutes.
Tale of the Tape: Points per game – Wilmington 57.0, Mount Union 58.9; opponents' points per game – Wilmington 62.8, Mount Union 62.5; field goal percentage – Wilmington 37.1, Mount Union 34.9; three-point percentage – Wilmington 26.5, Mount Union 25.2; free throw percentage – Wilmington 63.4, Mount Union 63.5; rebounding margin per game – Wilmington -3.1, Mount Union +2.7; assist-to-turnover ratio – Wilmington 0.67, Mount Union 0.60.
Coaching Connection: Blankespoor spent several seasons as Venet's assistant at Mount Union. She helped the Purple Raiders qualify for three NCAA Division III Women's Baskebtall Tournaments in 2010, 2011 and 2012.
Recent History: Wilmington is 30-16 against Mount Union since joining the OAC prior to the 2000-01 season. More information can be viewed by visiting the link above.
Coverage: Live statistics and live video of the game will be available – visit the links above.
Social Media: Wilmington athletics is represented on Facebook (Wilmington College Athletics), Twitter (@DubCQuakers) and Instagram (@DubCQuakers). Follow all the happenings of Wilmington College on social media by using the hashtag "#WeAreDubC".
Up Next: Wilmington hosts Muskingum University on Wednesday. Tip-off from Fred Raizk Arena is scheduled for 7 p.m.
