WILMINGTON, Ohio - The Wilmington College women's basketball team overcame a 15-point halftime deficit to defeat Heidelberg University 61-51 in an Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) contest at Fred Raizk Arena on Saturday afternoon.
The Quakers had just two baskets in the first five minutes of the game, but both were triples as Jada Pohlen and Bekah Bowser connected from distance. A Brooke Stover offensive rebound and layup gave the hosts an 8-6 advantage, but the Student Princes scored the next seven points to lead 13-8. Consecutive baskets from Pohlen include the freshman's second triple of the contest knotted the score at 13-13, but a Hallie Rogers jumper gave Heidelberg a 15-13 edge after 10 minutes.
The visitors took control in the second quarter as Wilmington played perhaps its worst quarter of the season. Heidelberg made 8-of-16 in the quarter which included three open layups in transition to go along with three triples. The Quakers, on the other hand, made just 3-of-18 in the 10-minute session and were held without a three-pointer. Heidelberg went into the locker room up 36-21.
Wilmington cut the deficit to single digits early in the third quarter, but the a Sequioa Bradley triple followed by an Alyssa Martin jumper put Heidelberg on top 45-33 with three minutes to play in the quarter. The Quakers quickly answered as Pohlen added a pair of free throws and Jaylah Captain nailed a triple from the wing. Two Rogers free throws and a Kennedy Lewis layup ended the quarter with the Student Princes ahead 47-40.
After a poor second quarter, Wilmington played one of its best quarters in the fourth. Heidelberg was held to four points with just 1-of-11 shooting. The Student Princes only field goal came with less than a minute to play. Offensively, the Quakers scored 21 points with 11 coming from Lewis. The Springboro native gave WC a 48-47 lead with seven minutes to play, and a Pohlen old-fashioned, three-point play followed. JaKaia Lotz then put the hosts up 53-47 and an Elise Carpenter all but put the game away with a triple.
Wilmington finished the game 23-of-61 (37.7 percent) from the field to go along with a 7-of-25 performance (28.0 percent) from three-point range and 8-of-11 (72.7 percent) from the free throw line. The Quakers also outrebounded the Student Princes 43-29 in the game. Heidelberg made 18-of-50 (36.0 percent) from the field and 6-of-20 (30.0 percent) from distance after starting 5-of-8 from beyond the arc.
Individually, Kennedy finished with 19 points on 8-of-12 shooting with nine rebounds, three assists and three steals while Pohlen added 14 points. Captain had six points and six boards while Lotz added nine rebounds in 18 minutes off the bench. A trio of Student Princes - Rogers, Bradley and Martin - finished in double figures with Bradley leading the bunch with 13 points.
Wilmington (6-3, 1-2 OAC) hosts Earlham College next Saturday.
