Box Score
GAMBIER, Ohio – Despite nearly erasing a 13-point lead that set in at the end of the first half, the inside-out-game of visiting Ohio Wesleyan University proved to be too much for the Kenyon College women's basketball team. The Battling Bishops received great help from their bench players and broke away from Kenyon in the second half to steal a 71-54 win away from the Ladies. Maggie Boelter led both sides with 16 points.
Kenyon (12-8, 7-5 NCAC) closed out the first half on a high note by scoring the final five points of the frame to cut Ohio Wesleyan's lead from 13 to eight points. Sarah Hobbs nailed a three-pointer with 17 seconds to go. On a loose ball following OWU's next possession, Boelter drew a foul with 0.4 seconds remaining on the clock to send her to the line for a one-and-one chance, where she hit both free throws.
Kenyon kept the ball rolling coming out of the locker room when Maureen Hirt hit her lone three-ball of the game and then followed with a successful drive through the lane to bring the deficit to four points, 41-37. However, that is where the Ladies' good fortune ended.
The Bishops (14-8, 9-4 NCAC) went on an 18-4 run after that play to make their lead 18 points, capped off by a three-pointer from Kristin Henning. Even with just under nine minutes remaining in the game at that point, the Ladies were unable to recover.
Boelter was Kenyon's largest offensive threat, scoring 16 points behind a 4-for-12 shooting performance from the field and a perfect 6-for-6 showing at the free throw line. Maureen Hirt was held to just nine points though chipped in four assists. Meredith Williams led the team with eight rebounds while scoring six points.
Of Ohio Wesleyan's 71 points, 41 of those came from its bench players. Reserve LaNiece McRae worked on the Ladies in the post and by game's end led the Bishops with 13 points. She also pulled down 11 boards to complete the double-double effort. Three different players scored 10 or more points off of the bench for OWU. Joining McRae was Taylor Dickson (12) and Henning (10) to account for 35 points.
Kenyon faltered from the field, finishing the game hitting just 27.9 percent of their field goal attempts and could not find its stroke from distance, knocking down just one of their 14 long range attempts in the second half. Ohio Wesleyan countered with a 45.2 percent shooting percent, nearly matching that from three-point range.
Prior to the game, Kenyon celebrated its senior class comprised of Boelter, Hirt, and Autumn Anderson. It is well documented that Hirt sits atop the best in program history in many offensive statistical categories including second-most points scored (1,683) and three-point field goals made (271). With her two rebounds against Ohio Wesleyan, she is now tied for sixth all-time with Rachel Fikes in total rebounds with 520.
In Boelter's previous game against Allegheny College on Tuesday, her three assists put her fourth all-time in career helpers. She now has 312 in her four-year career.
Despite being slowed down by injury, Anderson is currently having her best season with the Ladies. In 14 games, 13 as a starter, she has averaged 10.8 points per game and 4.4 rebounds per contest, both ahead of her previous best season averages.
Kenyon will host Denison University on Wednesday, Feb. 12 at Tomsich Arena for a 6 p.m. tipoff. As part of the spirit behind the Kenyon-Denison rivalry, Kenyon will be hold "Purple Reign" to fill the stands with purple attire. Purple Reign t-shirts will be available while supplies last for fans in attendance.
