Junior Makenzie Wippel and sophomore Spencer Robles combined for 39 points as the Wilmington College women's basketball team shook off a sluggish start to post the 65-56 victory Saturday over John Carroll in Ohio Athletic Conference action at Fred Raizk Arena in Hermann Court.
Wippel (Orient, OH/Westfall), making her first start of the season, scored a season-high 22 points in the victory. The forward had a stretch early in the first half in which she scored nine of Wilmington's 10 points as LQB was attempting to find its way. She also had eight rebounds, three steals, two assists and a block.
"I knew (Wippel) would have a big game," said Wilmington head coach Jerry Scheve. "She knew she was going to play a lot. Our run started with Makenzie Wippel, and she stepped up huge for us. She was able to get some easy baskets because of the attention being paid to (senior) Brianna (Peters), but it got her going."
Playing for the first time in two weeks, the Lady Quakers took nearly six minutes to find any kind of offensive rhythm as they fell behind 11-2. Wilmington's deficit grew to as much as 11, trailing 21-10 with 9:27 remaining.
"We got off to a very slow start," said Scheve. "I thought we were at a disadvantage we had a long break and John Carroll played Wednesday. Thankfully, we played great defense from the beginning and we didn't get blown out early."
No sooner than WC faced its only double-figure deficit, they found its shooting stroke. More specifically, Robles (Clyde, OH/Clyde) started connecting from deep. The guard hit three of Wilmington's four three-pointers during its 15-0 run that enabled the Lady Quakers to grab a lead they wouldn't relinquish. Robles finished with a career-high 17 points, making 5-of-6 from beyond the arc.
Senior Bria Eslick (Cleveland Height, OH/Lutheran East) scored seven straight points during a 9-2 spurt that pushed WC lead to 15 points, and the Lady Quakers lead remaining double digits until a late Blue Streak basket.
Peters (Alexandria, KY/Campbell County) added seven points and a game-high nine rebounds, while senior Shelby Kies (Maineville, OH/Kings) distributed a team-high five assists.
"Shelby is used to being a starter," said Scheve, "and is now coming off the bench. Number one, she has accepted it and number two, she has provided us with a spark."
Winners of three straight, Wilmington (9-4 overall, 5-1 OAC) claimed sole possession of second place. The Lady Quakers will host Otterbein 7:30 p.m. Wednesday.