SPRINGFIELD, Ohio – The Wilmington College women's basketball team, which entered the game third in NCAA Division III women's basketball, was held under 70 points for just the second time this season in an 85-68 loss at Wittenberg University in game one of the Charles B. Zimmerman / Kiwanis Classic on Sunday.
The Quakers scored six of the first eight points on a basket from Kennedy Lewis, a free throw from Hannah Binkley and a triple from Kelly Noll. The Tigers scored the second six points to take their first lead, but a Hannah Binkley layup tied the game 8-8 at the 6:28 mark. Wittenberg proceeded to break the game open with a 13-8 run over the next 4:30, and as the second quarter opened, the hosts stretched their advantage to a dozen (35-23) scoring on 4-of-5 possession to open the second 10 minutes.
An old-fashioned, three-point play from Ellen Nilback off a pass from Lewis got Wilmington back within eight, and a Lewis layup on the next possession with 3:56 to play in the quarter made the score 38-32. That basket would be the last points for the Quakers in the half, however, as four points for Wittenberg to close gave the Tigers a 42-32 lead at halftime.
A Noll layup opened the third quarter, but after one Tiger miss, Wittenberg would score on four consecutive possessions top open up a 15-point advantage (51-36), with 5:51 to play in the quarter. The Tigers, which entered the game averaging 63.3 points per game, passed that mark less than a minute into the fourth quarter. A score on its first three possessions gave Wittenberg its biggest lead of the game (68-47) with 8:33 to play.
Wilmington didn't roll over, however, scoring on five consecutive possessions for a 10-0 run, but couldn't get closer than 13 points as Abigail Yunker, who led all scorers with 23 points, couldn't be contained.
Wittenberg finished 35-of-65 (50.8 percent) from the field to go along with four triples and making 15-of-20 (75.0 percent) from the charity stripe. Wilmington shot under 40.0 percent for just the second time season, converting 27-of-70 (38.6 percent) from the field. Additionally, the Quakers had their worst performance shooting from distance, making just 3-of-16 (18.8 percent) from beyond the three-point arc.
Points in the paint were close (50-48 for Wilmington), but the Tigers held a 21-6 edge in second-chance points and 33-31 in rebounds.
Lewis led Wilmington in scoring with 16 points while McKayla Binkley turned in a double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds. Yunker made 8-of-13 field goals for her 23 points while Korynne Berner, Kristie Kalis and Riley Culver also scored in double figures.
Wilmington (5-4) will face the loser of Stevenson University (Maryland) and Westminster College (Missouri) tomorrow (Monday) at noon.
