GAMBIER, Ohio – Kenyon didn't need any extra motivation on Saturday as it honored its three seniors prior to an 80-59 thumping of Wittenberg University in a North Coast Athletic Conference women's basketball game at Tomsich Arena. By the final buzzer, the Ladies had connected on a team single-game record 17 three-pointers.
 
Paige Matijasich led Kenyon with a game-high 21 points, 18 of which were scored in the second half. Newcomer Grace Connery provided a huge lift as she scored a season-high 18, all on three-pointers. Additionally, senior Jessica Gerber notched 12 points and tied a Kenyon single-game record with 12 assists. Fellow classmate Lane Davis also provided a punch as she attained 13 points and seven rebounds.
 
As a team, the Ladies (13-7, 7-5 NCAC) hit 44.4 percent from the field and 47 percent from three. The previous team record of made threes was 16 against Oberlin College on January 5, 2008.
 
The Ladies' first-quarter start set the tone for the entire afternoon. Not even three minutes into the game, Gerber and senior Sharon Hull had hit from downtown while Davis converted two layups. By the end of the period, Kenyon had hit 5-of-13 from three-land and led 23-16.


 
In the second, the visitors pulled to within three, 23-20, after an Amanda Raber layup, but the Ladies responded. A 15-5 run capped off by a trey from Greta Propp moved the Ladies' lead to 38-25 with about four minutes remaining. Wittenberg could only close that gap to nine, 42-33, by halftime after a Riley Culver free throw.
 
For the majority of the third, the Ladies maintained a double-digit lead. Their biggest advantage came after Connery drilled another deep shot pushing the score to 57-41 at the 4:38 mark.
 
The Tigers were able to close the deficit with a strong fourth-quarter start. Down by nine, 61-52, Wittenberg pulled to within four. An Alex Kiess jumper brought the tally to 61-57 before Kenyon erupted again. Connery hit back-to-back three-pointers and that keyed a 19-2 run over the final 7:02 of the fourth. Matijasich added four while Davis chipped in with six during that stretch.
 
Kenyon will look to keep this momentum when it heads to The College of Wooster on January 30 for another conference tilt. Tip-off is slated for 6 p.m.