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Wittenberg 66, Ohio Wesleyan 60 (1/26/2002)

Wittenberg broke a 5-5 tie with a 10-2 run and weathered an Ohio Wesleyan comeback to hold on for a North Coast Athletic Conference win over the Bishops on Saturday in Springfield.

Senior post Katy Sturtz (Worthington/Columbus Watterson) had hit a jumper to tie the game at 5-5 just over 3 minutes into the action, but the Tigers then held the Bishops scoreless from the field for the next 6 minutes while getting baskets from 5 different players.

Ohio Wesleyan came back with a basket by sophomore post Tiffany Barbee (Detroit, Mich./Cass Technical) and a 3-pointer by freshman wing Kelly Heil (Sylvania/Southview) to close within 2 points, but the Bishops went scoreless from the field for nearly 4 minutes as Wittenberg opened up a 10-point lead.

Wittenberg built the lead to 12 points, taking a 59-47 edge on a Rebecca Meers jumper with 6:03 to play. That would turn out to be the Tigers' last basket of the game, but it also would prove to be enough to hold on for the win.

Junior post Mindy Hammond (Columbus/DeSales) started the Bishop comeback with a pair of free throws and a bucket after a Wittenberg turnover, then Heil hit a basket after a Hammond steal and senior guard Talia Brader (Westerville/Columbus DeSales) drilled a 3-pointer to bring the Bishops within 59-56 with 1:36 left in regulation.

That was as close as Ohio Wesleyan would come. Wittenberg hit 7 of 8 free throws down the stretch to stay in front.

Heil led the Bishops with 21 points, hitting 9 of 13 shots from the field, while Hammond finished with 17 points and a team-high 7 rebounds. Sturtz led the Bishops with 3 assists.

Kate Rolf led Wittenberg with 17 points, followed by Stephanie Campbell with 15 and Tiffany Keller with 10.