Ohio Wesleyan 61, Denison 53

Jan. 12, 2005

Senior wing Kelly Heil (Sylvania/Southview) scored 4 points and senior post Erica Brizendine (Grove City) and sophomore guard Rachel Messaros (Granville/Columbus Bishop Hartley) each hit a free throw during a game-ending 6-0 run and the Ohio Wesleyan defense held Denison scoreless over the final 5:43 as the Bishops topped the Big Red in North Coast Athletic Conference action on Wednesday at Branch Rickey Arena.

Denison had closed to within 55-53 on Sam Davis' 3-pointer with 5:43 remaining, but the Big Red would not score again.

Brizendine hit a free throw on Ohio Wesleyan's next possession to make it a 56-53 game, then Heil added a lay-in with 4:28 to play to make it 58-53. Neither team scored until Heil sank a pair of free throws to extend the Bishop lead to 60-53 with :39 left in regulation time and Messaros added a free throw with :12 to go to account for the final margin.

Ohio Wesleyan had raced to an early 13-4 lead, getting 7 points from Heil and 4 from senior post Shelby Larson (Arlington Heights, Ill./Rolling Meadows). The Bishops led by as many as 18 points during the first half, but Denison got a 3-pointer by Kristen Sheffield and a pair of baskets by Emma Woodward to close to within 39-25 at halftime. The Big Red shot just 29 percent (9-for-31) from the field during the first half.

The Bishops still led, 49-33, on a bucket by sophomore post Tifini Ray (Hilliard/Davidson) with 12:20 left in the game, but Denison then went on a 17-0 run over the next 5 minutes to take the lead. Sheffield buried a pair of 3-pointers and Tammy Hoch added another to slice the deficit to 49-42, then Woodward hit a lay-in and Caitlin Krupka added a lay-in. A pair of Lindsay Dunnigan free throws brought the Big Red to within 49-48 with 7:56 remaining, and Denison took the lead on Woodward's lay-in with 7:21 to go.

Brizendine answered with a pair of free throws on Ohio Wesleyan's next possession, giving the Bishops the lead for good. Senior guard Celina Dopoulos (Strongsville) added a lay-in and Brizendine followed with a basket to give Ohio Wesleyan a 55-50 lead with 5:55 left, setting up the final minutes of regulation time.

Heil led Ohio Wesleyan with 20 points and shared the team lead with 11 rebounds, while Brizendine finished with 12 points, shared the team lead with 11 rebounds and dished out a team-high 4 assists.

Woodward led the Big Red with 16 points, while Sheffield finished with 14 points. Marisa Hard had a team-high 9 rebounds and Davis led the Big Red with 3 assists.

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