WILMINGTON, Ohio – The Wilmington College women's basketball team hits the road for the first time in 2023 on Saturday as the Quakers travel to University Heights to face John Carroll University. Tip-off from the Tony DeCarlo Varsity Center is slated for 4 p.m.
The Teams: Wilmington and John Carroll (JCU). The Quakers stand at 9-5 overall and 3-4 in Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) contests after a 65-57 triumph over Muskingum University on Wednesday. The Blue Streaks are 8-6 on the season and also 3-4 in league contests after a 62-48 defeat at the hands of Otterbein University at home on Wednesday.
The Coaches: Wilmington is under the direction of third-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. Beth Andrews, a 2015 JCU alumna, is in her seventh season on the coaching staff including her third as head coach. She guided her alma mater to the second round of the NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Tournament and a 23-5 record last season.
The Players: Fifth-year senior Kennedy Lewis leads Wilmington in in several statistical categories: points per game (12.8), rebounds per game (5.9) and assists per game (3.3). A trio of Quakers - Jada Pohlen, Marisa Seiler and Zahrya Bailey - score over eight points a game with Bailey coming off of a career-high 20 points in WC's win over the Muskies on Wednesday. Seiler joins Lewis as the two individuals to grab over five rebounds a contest. Kaelyn Underwood leads JCU in scoring (13.4 points) and rebounding (6.2 boards) while four other Blue Streaks - Halle Landies, Maddie Pietrowski, Jaylen Hoffmann and Ava Ryncarz - score over seven points per game.
Tale of the Tape: Points per game – Wilmington 61.4, JCU 60.4; opponents' points per game – Wilmington 57.4, JCU 65.2; field goal percentage – Wilmington 35.5, JCU 35.6; three-point percentage – Wilmington 25.7, JCU 23.3; free throw percentage – Wilmington 77.1, JCU 58.4; rebounding margin – Wilmington +2.6, JCU +2.6; assist-to-turnover ratio – Wilmington 0.74, JCU 0.70.
Recent History: Wilmington is 25-26 against JCU since becoming an NCAA Division III member in the early 1990s. The Blue Streaks have won the last 10 meetings and ended the Quakers' season each of the last four years. More information can be viewed by visiting the link above.
Tickets: Hometown Ticketing will be used for the game. Fans are encouraged to purchase digital tickets prior to game time at the pink 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 rounds out the first half of conference play at Otterbein University on Wednesday.