WILMINGTON, Ohio – The Kenyon Ladies basketball team made some defensive strides in their second game of the year and defeated Grove City College 58-44 on Saturday during the Damon's/Hampton Inn Tip-Off Classic hosted by Wilmington College.
 
Kenyon limited the Wolverines to 35.4 percent shooting which included a 23 percent clip from three-point range.
 
Paige Matijasich led the team with 20 points while also grabbing 12 rebounds and collecting three steals. Senior Jessica Gerber added 12 points and a game-high four assists while Sharon Hull chipped in with eight points.
 
Within the game's first six minutes, Kenyon had hit 7-of-11 shots and attained a 16-7 lead after a three-ball from Gerber. Added into that stretch was seven points from Matijasich. 
 
The Ladies' offense stalled after that though. From the 4:23 mark of the first to 7:19 of the second, Kenyon hit just 1-of-10 and Grove City was able to pull the scoreboard to one, 18-17, after free throws from Kate Balcom.
 
Despite tough sledding offensively, the Ladies dug deep and kept their advantage. Over the remainder of the second, Kenyon hit all seven of its attempts and held Grove City to three field-goal makes on 10 shots. By halftime, the Ladies led 36-26.
 
In the third period, the closest the Wolverines got was eight points as the Ladies extended their advantage. A Grace Connery three near the top of arc pushed Kenyon up its biggest margin, 46-31. Then with 1:07 left, a Lane Davis layup moved the scoreboard to 51-34.
 
The final quarter brought suffocating defense from the Ladies as they gave up just six points on 3-of-13 Wolverine shooting.
 
Tomorrow, the Ladies will face Wilmington for the tip-off title. Game time is scheduled for 2 p.m.