DELAWARE, Ohio – The 15th/16th-ranked Ohio Wesleyan University women's basketball team was back home at Branch Rickey Arena on Tuesday for some holiday-break hoops, hosting Washington & Jefferson on day one of their annual Hoops for Hope event. The Bishops struggled to find any sort of consistency through the first three quarters but a sudden offensive explosion surged OWU past W&J in the fourth quarter for a 61-50 victory.

The Battling Bishops tack an eighth win onto their streak and move to 9-1 on the year. Washington & Jefferson drops to 7-3.

Things got off to a fairly normal start for the Red and Black as Maddie Ebbert laid in the first points of the game on OWU's opening possession to start a 10-5 run in which the Bishops shot 5-for-9 from the field. However the offensive output soon slowed down before coming to a complete stop when Ohio Wesleyan went scoreless for nearly three-and-a-half minutes near the end of the quarter, giving Washington & Jefferson space to go on a 7-0 run leading to a 15-13 W&J advantage at the first break.

Both sides stuttered a bit in the second quarter with 10 points each for a 25-23 halftime score in favor of the Presidents. The Battling Bishops offense continued to struggle into the third quarter, being held to just single-digits at nine points as opposed to 14 from Washington & Jefferson, making it 39-32 at the final break.

Facing a seven-point deficit with just 10 minutes to go, the Red and Black roared to life in the fourth quarter. Through about the first five minutes, OWU allowed just two made field goals for W&J and went on a 13-4 run to take a 45-43 lead at the 4:49 mark. From there, the Bishops finished strong, continuing to outrun the Presidents 16-7 to the final buzzer for a 61-50 victory. All-in-all the Battling Bishops outtallied W&J 29-11 in the final period, shooting 9-for-14 from the field and scoring 13 points off of 10 forced turnovers.

THE NUMBERS
Macy Miller recorded her eighth double-double of the season with 15 points and 14 rebounds – her fifth game this year with at least 14 rebounds – alongside five steals, three blocks, and one assist.

Kendall Dieringer tied her career high with 14 points as well as two assists and one rebound.

Alyssa Griner scored 12 points and secured six boards and two steals.

Nora Johns put up career highs in both points and steals with 11 and four, while also grabbing two rebounds and making one block.

Maddie Ebbert tallied five points with two rebounds and one block.

Katie Neuhart and Carly Lehman each had two points. Neuhart added three rebounds and one assist while Lehman nabbed one rebound and one block.

UP NEXT
The Battling Bishops have a quick turnaround, playing host to Allegheny tomorrow at noon at Branch Rickey Arena on day two of Hoops for Hope.