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Ohio Wesleyan 73, Ohio Northern 70 (12/29/2001)

Junior post Mindy Hammond (Columbus/DeSales) recorded the second triple-double in Ohio Wesleyan women's basketball history and the Bishops answered a frantic Ohio Northern comeback with one of their own to win the championship game of the Ohio Northern Invitational on Saturday at Ohio Northern University in Ada.

The Bishops scored the first 8 points of the game, 4 by senior post Katy Sturtz (Worthington/Columbus Watterson), and soon had padded the lead to double figures

A 3-pointer by freshman wing Kelly Heil (Sylvania/Southview) hiked the Bishop edge to 29-14 with 12:45 left in the first half, and the advantage stayed in double figures for most of the rest of the period. Ohio Wesleyan was red-hot during the first half, shooting 57.7 percent (15-26) from the field, including 55.6 percent (5-9) from 3-point range.

The Bishops increased their lead to 13 points on Sturtz' lay-up with 16:52 left in the game, and still led by 12 when sophomore post Tiffany Barbee (Detroit, Mich./Cass Technical) converted a 3-point play for a 59-47 lead with 10:57 remaining.

Ohio Northern clawed back with a 3-pointer by Alvera Wannemacher and 4 points by Jill Downing to close to within 5 points with 9:07 to play. The Polar Bears continued their comeback at the free throw line, as Downing, Alena Wannemacher and Alvera Wannemacher each sank a pair of charity tosses to bring the Polar Bears within 62-61 with 6:45 to play.

Alvera Wannemacher then hit another free throw to tie the game at 62-62 before Alena Wannemacher sank 2 more free throws and hit a lay-in to give the Polar Bears a 66-62 lead with 5:15 to play.

And the momentum swung back to the Bishops just as quickly.

Hammond drilled a 3-pointer on Ohio Wesleyan's next possession, bringing the Bishops back to within 1 point, and after 2 minutes of spirited yet scoreless play, Hammond found Sturtz for a lay-in that gave Ohio Wesleyan the lead for good.

Hammond found Sturtz for another lay-in to raise the lead to 69-66 with 1:45 to play, and while Kelli Waggoner twice hit baskets that brought the Polar Bears back to within 1 point, the Bishops were able to counter each time.

Sturtz sank a pair of free throws with :03 to play for the final margin.

Hammond totaled 18 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists, recording only the second triple-double in Ohio Wesleyan women's basketball history. The first was by Ann Osborne, who collected 14 points, 16 rebounds and 11 assists against Denison on Feb. 4, 1985. Hammond's 11 assists ties her for fourth place on the all-time Bishop single-game list.

Sturtz led the Bishops with 26 points and Heil added 17 points.

Hammond was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player. She was joined on the all-tournament team by Sturtz and Heil.

Downing led Ohio Northern with 19 points, followed by Alyssa Rickert with 15 points, Waggoner with 13 points and a team-high 5 rebounds, and Alena Wannemacher with 10 points.