GAME PROGRAM (TO COME)
WILMINGTON, Ohio – The Wilmington College women's basketball team opens Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) play on Saturday when the University of Mount Union comes to Hermann Court on Saturday. Tip-off from Fred Raizk Arena is slated for 3 p.m.
The Teams: Wilmington and Mount Union. The Fightin' Quakers opend the season with a convincing win at Mount St. Joseph University, but fell to Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAA) members Calvin University and Alma College at the Fred Raizk Memorial Classic over the weekend. The Purple Raiders are 1-1 overall after defeating North Central College and falling to No. 1 and MIAA member Hope College on the road. Mount Union plays the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg 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: Wilmington features a balanced scoring attack as six Quakers score at last five points per game. Kyria Walker and Zahrya Bailey both scored at least eight points a contest while Walker, Kennedy Lewis and Haley Cook grab over four rebounds a game. Walker, Bailey and Lewis assisted on at least two baskets. A trio or Purple Raiders - Isi Palamone, Emma Cannon and Katie Clark - scorfe at least seve points per game while the first two combine to grab over a dozen rebounds per 40 minutes.
Tale of the Tape: Points per game – Wilmington 58.7, Mount Union 55.3; opponents' points per game – Wilmington 66.0, Mount Union 71.7; field goal percentage – Wilmington 38.0, Mount Union 32.4; three-point percentage – Wilmington 28.6, Mount Union 19.5; free throw percentage – Wilmington 52.0, Mount Union 72.1; rebounding margin per game – Wilmington -6.7, Mount Union +4.7; assist-to-turnover ratio – Wilmington 0.85, Mount Union 0.20.
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 14-6 against MSJ since becoming an NCAA Division III member in the early 1990s. The Quakers have won the last 10 meetings. More information can be viewed by visiting the link above.
Coverage: Live statistics 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 the College of Wooster on Tuesday evening.