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Kenyon 78, Ohio Wesleyan 73 (1/4/2002)

Kenyon took the lead for good with a 12-1 run midway through the second half and held on to defeat Ohio Wesleyan in North Coast Athletic Conference action on Friday night at Branch Rickey Arena.

The loss was the Bishops' first of the season in NCAC competition and snapped Ohio Wesleyan's 5-game winning streak.

Kenyon had taken a 10-point lead late in the first half, but Ohio Wesleyan rallied with the final 7 points of the period to cut the halftime deficit to 39-36. Senior guard Elizabeth Edinger (Toledo/Whitmer), sophomore post Tiffany Barbee (Detroit, Mich./Cass Technical) and freshman wing Kelly Heil (Sylvania/Southview) scored baskets during that stretch and junior post Jennifer Heil (Sylvania/Southview) added a free throw after snagging an offensive rebound in the closing seconds.

The Bishops took their first lead of the second half on Kelly Heil's 3-pointer and got a 3-point play and another free throw by junior post Mindy Hammond (Columbus/DeSales) to take a 48-44 edge with 15:43 remaining. After Kenyon scored the next 6 points to retake the lead, Ohio Wesleyan got back-to-back lay-ins from Kelly Heil and a pair of free throws by senior post Katy Sturtz (Worthington/Columbus Watterson) for a 54-50 lead with 13:04 to play.

Kenyon answered with back-to-back 3-pointers by Erin O'Neill to take the lead for good, and Cori Arnold capped the run with a 3-pointer and a jumper from the line, the latter giving the Ladies a 62-55 advantage with 10:03 to play.

Kenyon still led, 71-62, with 6:34 remaining and would rely on its defense from there. Ohio Wesleyan cut the deficit to 71-68 with a basket by Sturtz and 2 free throws apiece by senior guard Michelle Wolfe (Gahanna/Lincoln) and Kelly Heil, but the Bishops would not come any closer.

Ohio Wesleyan came back to within 3 points on a bucket by senior guard Talia Brader (Westerville/Columbus DeSales) with :33 to play, but Kenyon's Sarah Fox went 1-for-2 at the line to pad the lead to 4 points.

Hammond led the Bishops with 18 points and 12 rebounds, Kelly Heil followed with 17 points, Sturtz finished with 12 points and 11 rebounds and Wolfe scored 12 points and shared the team lead with 4 assists. Brader also shared the team lead with 4 assists.

Fox led Kenyon with 20 points, followed by Eileen Wittman with 14 points, Arnold with 13 points, and O'Neill and Beth Lye with 12 points apiece.