WILMINGTON — How fitting that Wilmington’s quartet of seniors made big plays when it counted as the Fightin’ Quakers defeated Capital, 60-53, Wednesday in Ohio Athletic Conference action at Fred Raizk Arena.
Before the game, each of the departing seniors — Ashley Andracki, Brittaney Jefferson, Mary Moyer and Ja’Cole Tabor — were honored for their contributions to the WC program. Each one would later make her presence known on the floor as Wilmington closed out its final regular-season home game on a winning note.
“Tonight was about the players, especially our seniors, and each one of them stepped up and made big plays when it mattered,” said Lady Quakers acting head coach Allan King, who guided the team in the absence of Jerry Scheve who was sidelined by the flu. “Every one of the seniors had big contributions for us tonight.”
The victory improves the Fightin’ Quakers to 16-8 overall, 12-5 in the OAC, currently in third place. This sets up a showdown with Baldwin-Wallace for second place in the OAC standings on Saturday. BW will host WC with tournament seeding at stake.
If the Fightin’ Quakers win Saturday, they will secure second place in the OAC and a bye into the semifinal round. A WC loss means the Fightin’ Quakers will receive a bye into the quarterfinal round.
Capital falls to 9-15 overall, 5-12 in the OAC.
Wednesday night’s contest was a battle from start to finish, with the lead changing hands 12 times. The game was tied seven times. It was a 49-all standoff with just over 2:00 remaining before WC pulled away at the end with a 7-1 run to salt away the victory.
“To me, the prettiest play was when Mary (Moyer) knocked the ball away from a Capital player, and Ja’Cole Tabor grabbed the ball and drove down the floor to kill the clock,” King said. “Mary and Ja’Cole had big rebounds and Brittaney (Jefferson) scored in each period, and had big baskets for us. Ashley Andracki, our fifth-year senior, ran the offense and she hit those big free throws to help put it away. It was that kind of a night and I am so proud them and their efforts tonight.”
Jefferson led Wilmington in scoring with 17, 11 coming in the first half. Andracki followed with 10, including eight in the final period, as WC outscored Capital 19-14.
Tabor, who makes things happen when she is on the court, came up with five steals, pulled down 10 rebounds (eight off the offensive board), and added six points. Moyer scored nine points, including six in the second period, and pulled down eight rebounds. Mackenzie Campbell, who missed Saturday’s game at John Carroll, was back in the starting line-up and scored six points.
The Crusaders were unable to capitalize at the free throw line, converting just 10 of 20 attempts. WC made 16 of 21, including 8 of 10 in the final period.
SUMMARY
FEBRUARY 15, 2017
@Fred Raizk Arena
Wilmington 60 Capital 53
C 15.13.11.14…..53
W 13.11.17.19…..60
(53) CAPITAL (fg-3fg-ft-tp) Fondessy 4-1-0-9 Pla 0-0-0-0 Wachtman 5-0-0-10 Ondo 1-0-1-3 Ovies 1-0-1-3 Sech 1-0-0-2 Juncker 7-0-2-16 Stonerock 1-0-5-7 Horn 0-0-0-0 Risner 1-0-1-3. TOTALS 21-1-10-53
(60) WILMINGTON (fg-3fg-ft-tp) Harman 0-0-2-2 Moyer 3-0-3-9 Jefferson 5-2-5-17 Andracki 3-1-3-10 Campbell 3-0-0-6 Hooper 2-2-0-6 Ritz 0-0-0-0 Smith 2-0-0-4 Tabor 1-1-3-6. TOTALS 19-6-16-60
FIELD GOALS: C 21-52 (Juncker 7-10); W 19-58 (Jefferson 5-10)
3 PT FIELD GOALS: C 1-7; W 6-18 (Hooper 2-6 Jefferson 2-4)
FREE THROWS: C 10-20; W 16-21 (Jefferson 5-5 Andracki 3-3 Moyer 3-4)
REBOUNDS: C-35 (Risner 9 Juncker 7); W-42 (Tabor 10 Moyer 8 Jefferson 6 Campbell 5)
ASSISTS: C-8 (Ovies 4); W-9 (Moyer 3 Andracki 2 Tabor 2)
STEALS: C-12 (Jucnker 4); W-10 (Tabor 5 Jefferson 2)
BLOCKED SHOTS: C-3 (Risner 2); W-1
TURNOVERS: C-17; W-19
