MARIETTA -Marietta College saw a 19-point second half lead dwindle down to just five before rallying to hold off the Muskingum, 84-72, in the Ohio Athletic Conference opener for both teams Wednesday night at Ban Johnson Arena.
Sophomore forward Candice Alexander poured in 20 points and grabbed 15 rebounds and junior guard Tori Dixon drilled four second half 3-pointers to give the Pioneers their fourth victory in five attempts this season.
"They put on a big press there in the second half and we weren't able to handle it very well for a few possessions," said first-year Pioneer head coach Stacia Shrider, who notched her first career OAC victory. "We were able to hold off their punch and get a big win."
Behind the strong play of Hannah Nelson, Muskingum grabbed the early lead and a field goal by the senior forward gave her ballclub a 17-14 lead with just under 10 minutes to play in the half.
A pair of assists from Alexander, the first to Jessica Brogan and the second to Shelby Maloney, gave the Pioneers the lead and sparked a 24-8 run that gave MC a 38-25 halftime lead.
Pioneer senior point guard Krissy Rowe chalked up eight first half assists and Frontier high school graduate Heather Booth contributed 10 first half points to pace the Marietta College run.
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WEST VIRGINIA 94, VMI 69
VMI (3-4)
Okoye 6-14 1-6 14, Gore 2-4 0-0 5, Covington 5-12 2-3 12, Glasgow 2-6 3-3 7, Brown 1-5 0-0 3, Burton 1-1 0-0 3, Absher 0-0 0-0 0, Stephenson 0-3 2-2 2, Carr 0-0 0-0 0, Albritton 1-7 0-2 3, Anglade 2-5 1-2 5, Watson 1-2 2-4 4, Marshall 4-8 0-0 11. Totals 25-67 11-22 69.
WEST VIRGINIA (2-3)
Kilicli 5-8 3-3 13, Henderson 4-11 1-2 10, Murray 6-12 0-0 13, Staten 7-10 4-4 18, Hinds 2-5 0-1 4, Rutledge 1-1 0-0 2, Harris 4-9 1-2 10, Brown 1-7 0-0 2, Browne 4-11 3-4 11, Dickerson 0-3 0-0 0, Romeo 0-1 0-0 0, Noreen 0-0 0-0 0, Miles 3-4 5-5 11. Totals 37-82 17-21 94.
Halftime-West Virginia 48-31. 3-Point Goals-VMI 8-28 (Marshall 3-6, Burton 1-1, Gore 1-3, Okoye 1-4, Brown 1-5, Albritton 1-6, Stephenson 0-1, Glasgow 0-2), West Virginia 3-19 (Murray 1-1, Harris 1-3, Henderson 1-3, Staten 0-1, Hinds 0-2, Dickerson 0-3, Brown 0-3, Browne 0-3). Fouled Out-None. Rebounds-VMI 44 (Okoye 8), West Virginia 52 (Murray 9). Assists-VMI 19 (Glasgow 7), West Virginia 20 (Browne 7). Total Fouls-VMI 20, West Virginia 20. A-7,531.
MARSHALL 70, MOREHEAD STATE 67
MOREHEAD ST. (4-3)
Owens 2-10 2-6 6, Lewis-Briggs 3-9 0-0 6, Chavis 4-14 1-2 11, Atkinson 4-7 0-0 9, Stokes 5-9 0-0 14, Turner 1-9 2-3 4, Percell 0-0 2-3 2, Posthumus 2-5 1-2 5, Reed 3-6 0-0 6, Holmes 2-2 0-0 4. Totals 26-71 8-16 67.
MARSHALL (4-3)
Tinnon 5-10 2-4 12, Pittman 2-9 1-2 6, Spikes 4-6 5-8 13, Scarver 2-10 12-13 17, Kane 5-20 3-9 13, Martin 1-2 2-4 4, Hanner 1-2 3-4 5, Kambola 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 20-60 28-44 70.
Halftime-Marshall 24-23. 3-Point Goals-Morehead St. 7-16 (Stokes 4-6, Chavis 2-3, Atkinson 1-2, Lewis-Briggs 0-1, Turner 0-4), Marshall 2-17 (Pittman 1-3, Scarver 1-7, Martin 0-1, Tinnon 0-1, Kane 0-5). Fouled Out-Spikes, Stokes. Rebounds-Morehead St. 46 (Owens 8), Marshall 53 (Tinnon 16). Assists-Morehead St. 13 (Atkinson 5), Marshall 11 (Kane 7). Total Fouls-Morehead St. 32, Marshall 17. A-5,877.
OHIO 69, ST. BONAVENTURE 64
ST. BONAVENTURE (3-2)
Kloof 3-5 3-6 10, Conger 2-6 6-6 10, Johnson 6-10 4-5 17, M. Wright 0-3 0-0 0, Ndoye 1-2 0-2 2, Mosley 6-9 1-2 19, Gathers 0-2 0-2 0, Simmons 3-6 0-2 6, Davenport 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 21-44 14-25 64.
OHIO (6-0)
Offutt 4-8 2-2 14, Cooper 5-12 4-8 16, Kellogg 5-9 1-1 13, Smith 1-2 4-5 6, Baltic 3-8 0-0 6, Hall 2-4 2-3 7, Johnson 0-2 0-0 0, Taylor 0-0 0-0 0, Wilkins 1-2 0-0 3, Keely 2-3 0-1 4. Totals 23-50 13-20 69.
Halftime-Ohio 37-29. 3-Point Goals-St. Bonaventure 8-14 (Mosley 6-8, Kloof 1-1, Johnson 1-3, Conger 0-1, M. Wright 0-1), Ohio 10-26 (Offutt 4-7, Kellogg 2-5, Cooper 2-8, Wilkins 1-2, Hall 1-2, Johnson 0-1, Baltic 0-1). Fouled Out-Kloof. Rebounds-St. Bonaventure 34 (Conger 7), Ohio 27 (Baltic 6). Assists-St. Bonaventure 11 (Johnson, Mosley 4), Ohio 16 (Cooper 8). Total Fouls-St. Bonaventure 21, Ohio 22. A-6,389.
Wittenberg University 73,
Marietta College 63
MARIETTA COLLEGE (2-2)
J.J. Martin 7-19 5-6 21, Tyler Hammond 5-10 0-0 10, Brennan McKean 3-8 0-0 8, Scott Kimmey 1-3 0-0 3, Jason Humphrey 1-1 0-0 2, Tyler Worstell 3-5 1-2 9, Garrett Stephenson 3-8 2-2 8, Jacob Owens 1-5 0-0 2, Tyler Thomas 0-3 0-0 0, Matt Napier 0-0 0-0 0, Andy Stegman 0-2 0-0 0; TOTALS: 24-64 8-10 63; 3-point goals: Martin 2-7, Hammond 0-1, McKean 2-6, Kimmey 1-2, Worstell 2-4, Stephenson 0-2, Owens 0-3, Thomas 0-2
WITTENBERG UNIVERSITY (4-0)
Scott Masin 7-9 3-5 17, Zack Leahy 4-9 4-6 12, Steven Newell 2-3 4-4 10, Cole Bond 1-2 0-0 2, Teddy Kremcheck 0-0 0-0 0, Sam Collins 7-11 2-4 16, Ben Syroka 3-6 0-0 8, Cam Walton 2-5 0-0 5, Alex Fultz 1-1 0-0 3, John Albertson 0-0 0-0 0; TOTALS: 27-46 13-19 73; 3-point goals: Leahy 0-2, Newell 2-3, Bond 0-1, Collins 0-1, Syroka 2-5, Walton 1-3, Fultz 1-1
Shooting: M 24-64 (37.5%), W 27-46 (58.7%); Rebounds: M 30 (Martin 6), W 34 (Masin 10); Assists: M 6 (Hammond 2), W 11 (Masin, Leahy 3); Steals: M 3 (Martin 2), W 3 (3 with 1); Turnovers: M 7, W 12; Halftime score: Wittenberg 36, Marietta 33
WOMEN
No. 22 NORTH CAROLINA 57,
No. 15 OHIO ST. 54
OHIO ST. (4-2)
Moore 2-4 2-3 6, Adams 4-12 0-0 8, Ferguson 1-5 0-0 3, Stokes 3-12 1-2 7, Hill 9-21 2-2 24, Ellerbe 0-1 0-0 0, Alston 1-3 1-2 4, Dobranic 1-2 0-0 2, Kynard 0-2 0-0 0, Harmon 0-0 0-0 0, Scullion 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 21-62 6-9 54.
NORTH CAROLINA (7-0)
Gross 2-5 3-4 7, McDaniel 4-10 3-7 11, Rolle 3-11 5-7 11, Rountree 3-7 2-2 9, Ruffin-Pratt 5-9 1-2 11, Butts 0-1 0-2 0, Buckland 1-5 0-0 3, Coleman 1-2 2-4 5, Fuller 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 19-50 16-28 57.
Halftime-North Carolina 29-25. 3-Point Goals-Ohio St. 6-15 (Hill 4-9, Alston 1-2, Ferguson 1-4), North Carolina 3-10 (Coleman 1-1, Rountree 1-3, Buckland 1-4, Butts 0-1, Gross 0-1). Fouled Out-None. Rebounds-Ohio St. 40 (Stokes 7), North Carolina 42 (Gross 9). Assists-Ohio St. 14 (Hill, Stokes 4), North Carolina 12 (Ruffin-Pratt 4). Total Fouls-Ohio St. 20, North Carolina 15. A-2,765.
Marietta College 84,
Muskingum University 72
MUSKINGUM UNIVERSITY (3-2, 0-1 OAC)
Hannah Nelson 11-18 8-9 30, Tori Jarrett 4-12 4-6 16, Meghan Billick 3-6 3-6 9, Jendy Weppler 2-6 1-2 5, Gabbi Davis 0-7 0-0 0, Karen Sidwell 4-8 0-0 10, Bridgette Neighbors 1-1 0-0 2, Angela Darnley 0-0 0-0 0, Ashlee Alsept 0-1 0-0 0, Alexys Settles 0-1 0-0 0, Erika Winland 0-1 0-0 0; TOTALS: 25-61 16-23 72; 3-point goals: Nelson 0-2, Jarrett 4-8, Weppler 0-1, Davis 0-4, Sidwell 2-4, Winland 0-1
MARIETTA COLLEGE (4-1, 1-0 OAC)
Candice Alexander 8-10 3-4 20, Heather Booth 6-11 1-2 13, Jessica Brogan 3-6 4-5 10, Krissy Rowe 1-2 2-3 5, Shelby Maloney 1-5 0-0 3, Tori Dixon 6-10 7-7 23, Lindsay Deemer 3-3 0-0 6, Paige Lamb 1-1 0-0 2, Sierra Sigman 1-3 0-0 2, Emily Jones 0-2 0-0 0; TOTALS: 30-53 17-21 84; 3-point goals: Alexander 1-1, Brogan 0-1, Rowe 1-1, Maloney 1-2, Dixon 4-8, Sigman 0-2
Shooting: MU 25-61 (41%), MC 30-53 (56.6%); Rebounds: MU 30 (Nelson 11), MC 36 (Alexander 15); Assists: MU 8 (Nelson, Weppler 3), MC 23 (Rowe 10); Steals: MU 14 (Jarrett 4), MC 7 (Dixon 2); Turnovers: MU 17, MC 22; Halftime score: Marietta 38, Muskingum 25
"Krissy (Rowe) did an outstanding job taking care of the basketball for us tonight," said Shrider of Rowe, who totaled 10 assists for the game. "She understands her role and only made two turnovers in the game."
Marietta College picked up right where it left off in the second half, increasing its lead and when Dixon scored on a layup with just under 11 minutes to play, the lead was stretched to 19 at 59-40.
Muskingum was not quite ready to pack it in just yet however as head coach Beth Fox initiated a full court press that seemed to rattle the Pioneers.
No. 22 North Carolina 57,
No. 15 Ohio State 54
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) - Xylina McDaniel, Waltiea Rolle and Tierra Ruffin-Pratt scored 11 points apiece to lead No. 22 North Carolina to a 57-54 victory against No. 15 Ohio State on Wednesday.
Tayler Hill scored 24 points for the Buckeyes (4-2).
Hill's jumper pushed Ohio State ahead 54-51 with 1:26 left, but McDaniel made a jumper and Ruffin-Pratt made two to hand the Tar Heels the victory.
North Carolina (7-0) led 29-25 at the break. The Tar Heels opened the second half on an 8-0 run and pushed their advantage to 44-28 on Krista Gross' jumper with 11:36 remaining.
Hill scored 10 points to pull the Buckeyes to 46-38 with 7:58 left and tied the game at 50 on Darryce Moore's jumper with 2:56 remaining.
COLLEGE MEN
Marshall 70, Morehead State 67
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (AP) - D.D. Scarver scored 17 points and Dennis Tinnon posted 13 points and 16 rebounds to lead Marshall over Morehead State 70-67 Wednesday.
Nigel Spikes and DeAndre Kane scored 13 points apiece for the Thundering Herd (4-3).
After a back-and-fourth first half, Devon Atkinson's jumper drew Morehead State within 54-52 with 4:03 remaining in the second half. But Scarver hit his lone 3-pointer and Kane converted a fast-break layup to put Marshall up 59-52.
Morehead State (4-3) attempted to rally but Marshall hit 11 free throws over the final 1:17 to put the game away. Scarver had 10 of those free throws while Tinnon had the other.
Marshall has won 12 of the last 14 meetings, including the last 10 at home, against Morehead State. The Thundering Herd shot just 33.3 percent (20 of 60) but outrebounded Morehead State 53-46.
Ohio 69, St. Bonaventure 64
ATHENS, Ohio (AP) - D.J. Cooper's 3-pointer with 38 seconds remaining and his two free throws 19 seconds later helped Ohio remain unbeaten with a 69-64 nonconference victory over St. Bonaventure on Wednesday night.
The Bobcats, off to their first 6-0 start since 1969-70, led 53-45 before the Bonnies (3-2) used an 11-0 run to take a 56-53 lead at the 6:52 mark of the second half.
Chris Johnson's jumper with 49 seconds remaining gave St. Bonaventure its final lead, 64-63, before Cooper answered with his 3-pointer.
There were 15 lead changes and seven ties in the game.
Cooper finished with 16 points and eight assists for the Bobcats. He had 43 points and 13 assists the last time the teams met, a 112-107 St. Bonaventure victory two seasons ago. Walter Offutt added 14 points and Nick Kellogg 13.
Wittenberg 73, Marietta College 63
SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - Host Wittenberg University shot nearly 59 percent from the floor here Wednesday night inside Pam Evans Smith Arena as the Tigers improved to 4-0 with a 73-63 victory versus Marietta College.
Scott Masin had a team-high 17 points and a game-high 10 rebounds for the now 4-0 Tigers, who also received double figure scoring efforts from Sam Collins (16), Zack Leahy (12) and Steven Newell (10).
J.J. Martin's game-high 21 points weren't enough for the Pioneers (2-2). Martin added six boards and two steals for Marietta College, which trailed just 36-33 at halftime and also got 10 markers from Tyler Hammond.
