With the team’s top two scorers on the bench after fouling out, the Wilmington College women’s basketball struggled in overtime and fell to Baldwin Wallace Saturday, 65-56, in Ohio Athletic Conference action.
“It was a really tough loss,” said Wilmington head coach Jerry Scheve. “This is still a young team that is getting better. We played a really quality team today, toe-to-toe, and didn’t handle end of game situations (well enough) to beat a quality team. Having said that, we had people step up and make plays to give us an opportunity to win. Like I told the team, I am more excited about the future of this team, than I am disappointed in today.”
Wilmington’s defense kept the league’s top 3-point shooting team in check for nearly the entire game as BW converted just 2 of its first 28 attempts. But with the game hanging in the balance, the Yellow Jackets found their shooting touch.
A 3-pointer with 53 seconds remaining tied the game in regulation and a turnaround 3-pointer near halfcourt as the shot clock expired midway through overtime, sealed the BW win.
Both teams started off ice cold, making just one basket each in the first period. Wilmington kept the Yellow Jackets from a made field goal for the first 9:00. Neither team could get more than a three-point lead in the first half, and Baldwin Wallace finally gained a little footing with an 8-0 run in the third quarter.
However, freshman Mackenzie Campbell scored 6 of Wilmington’s 12 points during a 12-0 run that spanned the end of the third period and start of the fourth period. Campbell scored 16 of her career-high 20 points in the second half after sitting most of the first in foul trouble.
“The thing we knew about Mackenzie was that she is a competitor and she wants to win,” said Scheve. “She did all the things we needed her to do for us to get a win, and she is only going to get better.”
Wilmington led by 6 with less than 3:00 remaining, but the Yellow Jackets were able to get back in the game from the free throw line. Baldwin Wallace was 5-of-6 from the charity stripe, while the Fightin’ Quakers turned the ball over 3 times down the stretch.
Sophomore Ellie Kivell added 13 points, marking the third time this season she has reached double figures. Junior Mary Moyer tied a career-high with 12 rebounds, while scoring 6 points for the Fightin’ Quakers.
“Mary really, really all-out competed today and controlled the boards,” said Scheve. “It was all effort-related, and that is what we need out of everybody, especially her. She is a player that has to dominate a game with her effort.”
Wilmington (3-5 overall, 2-3 OAC) will be off for the winter break, returning to action, 8 p.m. Dec. 28 to take on SUNY Oneata in the Hoops for Hope tournament hosted by Ohio Wesleyan University.
