Box Score
Ohio Wesleyan 87, Immaculata 42

by Michaela Alfano '25

The 16th-/18th-ranked Ohio Wesleyan women's basketball team raced out to a 7-0 start with a jumper by fifth-year guard Lauren Denison (Pataskala/Watkins Memorial), a 3-pointer from fifth-year point guard Elizabeth Homan (Cincinnati/Anderson), and a layup by fifth-year guard Kasey Schipfer (Mechanicsburg).  The Bishops never lost the lead and went on to take down Immaculata, 87-42, in the first round of the NCAA Division III tournament on Friday at Branch Rickey Arena.

Ohio Wesleyan will take on Washington & Jefferson on Saturday in the second round.  W&J beat Messiah University, 76-72, in overtime after a buzzer beater from the Presidents' Bryn Bezjak kept them in the game and ultimately led to the win.

After Carly Coleman's jumper put the Mighty Macs on the scoreboard, sophomore post Macy Miller (Marysville/Milford Center Fairbanks) hit a jumper before Schipfer collected back-to-back layups to start an 18-0 run that helped the Bishops break the game open.  Homan and junior guard Mia Guscoff (Canton/Massillon Perry) both netted 3-pointers with senior post Karlee Ross (Beverly/Fort Frye), sophomore guard Carly Lehman (Milford Center/Fairbanks), and Miller each adding a jumper. A 3-pointer from Homan closed the opening quarter with the Bishops leading, 29-6.

Immaculata started the scoring in the second with Meg Robbins hitting a jumper.  Denison immediately got one back for the Bishops on the return.  The Bishops went on yet another scoring run with senior guard Maddie Schumacher (Tiffin/Calvert) hitting a jumper before Miller collected two jumpers and a fast-break layup.  At the end of the second, Homan was fouled shooting a three and sank 3 free throws.  Senior wing-post Chelsea Edington (Delaware/Buckeye Valley) hit a 3-pointer just as the buzzer signaled half, sending the Bishops to the locker room up 51-21.

Things slowed down in the third quarter with the Bishops outscoring Immaculata, 14-11.  Denison hit back-to-back 3-pointers off of turnovers with perfect passes in from Schipfer and Homan on each.  Coleman and Alyssa Long both found their way to the rim to sink a layup for the visitors, but the Bishops extended the margin to 65-32.

Schipfer scored 5 quick points to start the final 10 minutes of play.  Homan and Denison both posted a 3-pointer as the Bishops built up to their biggest lead of the game.  A 3-pointer from Guscoff coming out of a timeout brought the score to 82-35, Ohio Wesleyan leading by 47.

"We have such a great team.  Being able to play 15 people tonight shows that we have depth, and when we want to make a big run in this tournament we're going to need it because these games are only going to get harder and harder as we go on. Continuing to build that depth and build the confidence has been exciting to see," said Homan after the win.

Denison led the scoring with 19 points, Homan followed with 18 points and 4 assists, and Schipfer collected 13 points.  Miller posted a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds. The Bishops scored 23 points off the bench, with 9 other players collecting points.

Box Score