WILMINGTON, Ohio - Senior Kennedy Lewis poured in a career-high 26 points on 9-of-11 shooting to lift the Wilmington College women's basketball team to a 79-63 blowout Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) victory at Fred Raizk Arena on Wednesday afternoon.
The Fightin' Quakers scored on their first four possessions including seven points from Lewis and a Brooke Davis triple off a pass from Haley Cook. Up 10-2, Wilmington looked to push its lead to double digits in the later stages of the first quarter, but triple tries from Davis and Kenzie Campbell rimmed out leading 16-8. The Fighting Muskies pulled within a single possession as the quarter ended as Caitlyn DeMassimo hit a triple at the top of the arc. Two straight baskets from the visitors to open the second period gave Muskingum a 19-18 lead, but it would last only eight seconds as Lewis made two more free throws. Similarly to the first quarter, the visitors ended the quarter with a triple from the top of the arc, this one coming from Baileigh Bishop, made the score 38-33 at the break.
Despite holding a 17-0 edge in points off turnovers, Wilmington found itself up just five at halftime, but would put together one of its best quarters of the season in the third. Two Tanner Wirth free throws got Muskingum back to a three-point deficit at 40-37, but the Quakers answered with a 19-2 run over five minutes that featured seven points and two assists from Lewis. The hosts, which led 64-45 after three quarters, led by 15-plus the rest of the way.
Wilmington finished 31-of-64 (48.4 percent) for the team including making five three-pointers and 12-of-13 free throws. Muskingum finished 22-of-55 (40.0 percent), 14-of-15 from the charity stripe, but made just 5-of-20 (25.0 percent) from distance despite coming in as one of the OAC's best three-point shooting teams. Wilmington won the rebounding battle 37-27 and tallied eight steals.
Individually, Lewis led all scorers with her 26 points with seven assists and six rebounds in just over 30 minutes played. Davis and Campbell also scored in double figures while Cassidy Lovett had nine points and six rebounds with two assists and a steal. The DeMassimos - Caitlyn and Taylor - combined for 28 points in defeat.
Wilmington continues OAC play by hosting Marietta College for a 2 p.m. Senior Day contest on Saturday.
