Box Score
Ohio Wesleyan 75, Wittenberg 73

Senior guard Claire Sterling (West Jefferson) sank a lay-in to put Ohio Wesleyan ahead to stay, and the Bishops withstood a potential game-winning possession to take a North Coast Athletic Conference win over Wittenberg on Wednesday at Branch Rickey Arena.

Sterling's lay-in broke a 72-72 tie with :36 remaining in overtime.

Wittenberg's Delaney Williams drew a foul on the other end and hit the second of 2 free throws to bring the Tigers within a point, but the Bishops got that point back when freshman guard Kaeli Evins (Grafton/Midview) was fouled and hit the second of 2 free throws with :23 to go.

With time running out, Wittenberg's Abigail Younker launched a 3-pointer for the win, but her shot was off the mark.  Tiger teammate Korynne Berner controlled the loose ball and dished to Kristie Kalis, but Kalis' lay-in for the tie glanced off the rim at the buzzer.

Ohio Wesleyan had rallied from a 5-point deficit late in regulation time to send the game to the extra session.  Wittenberg had taken a 66-61 lead on a pair of Kalis free throws with :23 remaining, capping a 12-2 Tiger run.

Sophomore guard Leah Maniaci (Marion/Pleasant) buried a 3-pointer with :07 left to bring the Bishops within a basket, and after a timeout advanced the ball into the frontcourt, sophomore post Cierra Joiner (Centerburg) stole the inbounds pass and broke free for a lay-in to even the score with :03.1 to play.

The Bishops had a look at the game-winner in regulation.  A Wittenberg timeout again moved the ball into the frontcourt, but Kalis' pass toward the hoop sailed out of bounds underneath the basket, giving the ball back to Ohio Wesleyan with the same :03.1 on the clock.  Joiner wound up from 3-point range for the win, but her shot was short of the rim.

Senior guard Meghan Dunning (Mentor/Lake Catholic) and Sterling canned 3-pointers during an 8-0 run that broke a 49-49 tie and gave the Bishops a 57-49 advantage with 4:29 left in regulation, and Ohio Wesleyan still led, 59-54, after a Sterling lay-in with 2:07 to play.

A pair of lay-ins by Berner and another by Williams tied the game at 60, and after senior guard Nicole Popovich (Rocky River) hit the second of 2 free throws for a 61-60 Bishop lead, Berner answered with a lay-in and Abigail Yunker and Kalis each sank a pair of free throws for the 66-61 Wittenberg lead.

Sterling led the Bishops with 27 points, while Joiner and Popovich finished with 10 apiece.  Joiner added a team-high 7 rebounds.  Sophomore guard Molly Delaney (Delaware/Olentangy), Joiner, Popovich, and Maniaci had 3 assists apiece.

Yunker and Berner scored 20 points apiece for Wittenberg.

Box Score