MVP Hooper leads WC women to tourney title

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It was a successful weekend for the Wilmington College women’s basketball team in the Damon’s/Hampton Inn Tip-Off Tournament at Fred Raizk Arena.

Led by tournament MVP Savannah Hooper, the Lady Quakers won the title game 85-74 over Spalding University Saturday afternoon.

Although the winning margin was just 11, the Quakers opened the contest with a flourish and built a 56-33 halftime lead.

WC head coach Jerry Scheve utilized his squad to the maximum potential, giving nearly everyone a chance to play throughout the second half.

Wilmington won its opening round contest Friday night, 91-62, over Mary Baldwin University. Wittenberg, who lost to Spalding on a buzzer beater in Friday’s nightcap, defeated Mary Baldwin in Saturday’s consolation game, 92-25.

“I felt we really played well as a team this weekend,” Scheve said in his post-game comments. “We knew Spalding was very talented with some good individuals, but we matched up well with them. From the outset, we played very good on both ends of the floor. We feature some very young girls who are playing with a lot of confidence and the fast pace enabled us to show our athleticism today.”

In the championship game, Hooper, local product from Wilmington High School, ignited the Quaker offense with 13 points in the first half, as WC jumped out to a 31-18 lead after the first period. Hooper had a pair of rainbow treys from long-distance as WC claimed the second period, 25-15.

Also selected to the all-tournament team from WC were freshman McKayla Binkley, from Lynchburg-Clay High School, and returning starter Mackenzie Campbell. Binkley was the leading scorer in Saturday’s contest with 15 points, all coming in the first half.

Campbell had four of WC’s 11 assists. Hannah Rickman had a team-high three steals.

“We were able to play a lot of people, most of whom were out there 10-12 minutes,” Scheve said. “That experience will be valuable once we get underway with league (Ohio Athletic Conference) competition. this was a good test for us to begin the season,”

Wilmington won the rebounding battle 25-22. Faith Teaford, Campbell and Binkley each had four rebounds.

They also shot the ball at a nearly 50 percent clip from the field, sinking 32 of 66 attempts. From beyond the arc, they connected on 10 of 20 attempts, and Scheve noted they will dial it up from long-distance when the attempts are there.

“We have several good shooters who are more than willing to launch the three, and if its there, they will put it in the air,” he said. “We’re not gonna be shy about it.”

Also comprising the all-tournament team were the following players: Allison Just (Spalding), Haley Dannemiller (Wittenberg) and Rekeema Willis (Mary Baldwin).

Wilmington is not scheduled for any more game action until after the Thanksgiving holidays. Their next game will be the OAC opener against Ohio Northern on Dec. 6 at Fred Raizk Arena.

SUMMARY

Damons/Hampton Inn Tip-Off Tournament

@Fred Raizk Arena

Nov 18 2017

Wilmington 85 Spalding 74

S 20.13.13.28…..74

W 32.24.15.14…..85

(74) SPALDING (fg-3fg-ft-tp) Myers 0-0-1-1, Thornhill 2-0-2-6, Gahagan 3-0-2-8, Martin 4-1-1-10, Just 7-5-1-20, Bowden 2-1-0-5, Matthews 3-0-1-7, Goeing 3-2-2-10, Powell 1-1-0-3, Renfro 1-0-2-4. TOTALS 26-10-12-74.

(85) WILMINGTON (fg-3fg-ft-tp) Campbell 3-0-2-8, Harmann 3-0-0-6, Teaford 3-1-0-7, Binkley 6-3-0-15, Hooper 6-2-1-15, Monday 1-0-0-2, Kivell 2-1-2-7, Lee, 0-0-1-1, Morris, 2-2-1-7, Noll 2-1-0-5, Snider 3-0-3-9, Rickman 2-1-2-7. TOTALS 32-10-11-85.

Wilmington College freshman McKayla Binkley (10) had 15 points in the Quakers 85-74 win over Spalding in the title game of the Damon’s/Hampton Inn Tip-Off Tournament at Fred Raizk Arena.
http://www.wnewsj.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2017/11/web1_BKC_binkleysquJS.jpgWilmington College freshman McKayla Binkley (10) had 15 points in the Quakers 85-74 win over Spalding in the title game of the Damon’s/Hampton Inn Tip-Off Tournament at Fred Raizk Arena. John E. Swartzel | News Journal

By Bill Liermann

WNJ Sports Writer

Bill Liermann covers college and high school sports for the News Journal. Follow him on Twitter @lierjet

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