Box Score
Ohio Wesleyan 81, Hiram 51

Senior guard Lauren Denison (Pataskala/Watkins Memorial) buried back-to-back 3-pointers to spark a 20-3 first-quarter run that started Ohio Wesleyan on its way to a North Coast Athletic Conference win over Hiram on Saturday in Hiram.

The Ohio Wesleyan win, combined with DePauw's 55-50 loss at Oberlin, moves the Bishops into first place in the NCAC standings at 10-2, with DePauw right behind at 10-3.

Diara Parsons gave the Terriers an early 2-0 lead, and after Ohio Wesleyan responded with hoops by senior guard Kasey Schipfer (Mechanicsburg) and junior post Karlee Ross (Beverly/Fort Frye), Parsons sank a pair of free throws to even the score at 4 with 7:05 left in the first quarter.

Junior post Alyssa Griner (Delaware/Hayes) hit a jumper from the lane to put the Bishops ahead, and Denison knocked down 3-pointers on Ohio Wesleyan's 2 subsequent possessions to stretch the lead to 12-4 midway through the period.  Griner followed with another hoop and freshman post Macy Miller (Marysville/Fairbanks) added 3 buckets during the final minutes of the period as the Bishops took a 24-7 lead.

Hiram rallied during the second quarter, assembling a 10-0 run that included 2 buckets by Payton Black to close within 33-22 with 3:03 left, and the Terriers were still within 39-31 after another Black hoop midway through the third period.

Denison then drilled a pair of 3-pointers as Ohio Wesleyan scored 8 points in less than a minute to stretch the margin to 47-31, and the Bishops would pull away during the fourth quarter.

Schipfer and Griner shared the team lead with 20 points apiece, with Schipfer adding a team-best 11 boards.  Denison finished with 15 points, all from downtown, and Miller scored 10 points.  Senior point guard Elizabeth Homan (Cincinnati/Anderson) recorded 8 assists.

Box Score