Box Score
Ohio Wesleyan 59, Kenyon 55
Sophomore post Cierra Joiner (Centerburg) and senior guard Claire Sterling (West Jefferson) hit timely lay-ins in the closing minutes, and senior guard Nicole Popovich (Rocky River) and Sterling each sank a pair of free throws to help Ohio Wesleyan hold off a Kenyon comeback in a North Coast Athletic Conference clash on Wednesday at Branch Rickey Arena.
The Bishops threatened to pull away with the game in the second quarter, using a 13-2 run that included a 3-point play and a long-range 3-pointer from sophomore guard Molly Delaney (Delaware/Olentangy) to turn a 14-12 lead into a 27-14 margin midway through the period.
Ohio Wesleyan led by a 36-25 count at the intermission, but Kenyon got back into the game by holding the Bishops to only 4 points during the first 8-plus minutes of the third quarter. Meanwhile, Kenyon's Grace Connery hit a pair of 3-pointers, and Kenyon's Ellie Schaub scored a lay-in and a pair of free throws that brought the visitors within 40-39 with 1:19 to play in the period.
The Ladies took the lead on another Connery 3-pointer early in the fourth period, but that would be their only lead of the second half.
Joiner answered with a pair of free throws to give the lead back to the Bishops at 46-45, and sophomore guard Leah Maniaci (Marion/Pleasant) buried a 3-pointer midway through the period to stretch the lead to 49-45.
Kenyon would make it a single-possession game on several occasions, but Ohio Wesleyan had an answer each time.
The lay-ins by Joiner and Sterling put the Bishops ahead, 55-49, with :59 remaining in regulation time. Kenyon's Madelyn Anderson banked in a 3-pointer to halve the deficit, but Popovich sank a pair of free throws to stretch the lead back to 57-52 with :07 left. Kenyon's Paige Matijasich then drilled a 3-pointer from the right corner for a 57-55 count, but Sterling sealed the outcome with a pair of free throws with :03 left.
Sterling led the Bishops with 23 points. Joiner finished with 13 points and Delaney scored 10 points. Popovich grabbed a team-leading 7 rebounds.
Schaub scored 15 points for Kenyon.
Hailey de la Vara '21 contributed to this recap.
Box Score
