GAMBIER, Ohio – The 11th/10th-ranked Bishops visited Kenyon on Wednesday, looking to reach double digits in conference play with their 10th league win. The Battling Bishops led 56-49 late, but Kenyon rallied to tie the game at 59 in the final minute. Kendall Dieringer provided the heroics, sinking a layup with less than a second remaining to seal the 61-59 victory.

OWU improves to 19-2 overall, with a 10-1 mark in the NCAC. Kenyon falls to 6-16, 1-10 in conference play. 

Both sides traded baskets early, with the Bishops leading 18-16 at the end of the first quarter. Nora Johns led the offense with five, followed by Katie Neuhart with four. The Red and Black offense slowed in the second quarter, and Kenyon outscored the Bishops 16-13 to take a 32-31 lead into halftime. 

The Red and Black defense held firm in the third, allowing only six points to swing the momentum back in their favor. Dieringer capitalized on the defensive effort, pouring in six points to help the Bishops seize a 44-38 advantage heading into the final period. Ohio Wesleyan controlled the third period, outscoring Kenyon 13-6. In the final quarter, the Bishops built on their lead and soared out to a 56-47 lead with just under five minutes to play. 

However, the momentum shifted abruptly as the Owls pieced together a 10-1 run, erasing the deficit to tie the contest at 57 with just two minutes to play. With the score knotted at 59, Johns grabbed a clutch defensive rebound following an Abby Burdette miss to give the Bishops the final possession with 10 seconds left. After talking it over, Dieringer took it to the paint and laid it in to put the Bishops ahead 61-59 with less than a second remaining. Kenyon had one final possession, but did not have enough time to get a shot off.  

THE NUMBERS
The Bishops shot 33.9% from the field, going 21-for-62. OWU went 8-of-21 from behind the arc, and 11-for-18 at the charity stripe.

Katie Neuhart led the Bishop offense with 13 points, along with seven rebounds, three steals, and two assists. 

Alyssa Griner was next with 12 points, six rebounds and two assists. 

Kendall Dieringer finished with 11 points–knocking down three triples–and two assists. 

Nora Johns scored seven points, and added a career-high 10 rebounds. Johns also dished out three assists and made two steals. 

Bella Brader and Mia Guscoff each knocked down two threes, finishing with six points a piece. 

Claire Wakim tallied four points and two rebounds.

Carly Lehman had one point, six rebounds, and three steals.

Chloe Ebeling contributed one point, one rebound, and one block. 

UP NEXT
The Red and Black are back in action on Saturday for Senior Day, as they host Wooster at 1 p.m. Saturday is also Bishop Backers Winter Community Day featuring the Delaware Expo in Gordon Field House from noon to 3 p.m. Free admission to both the game and the expo will be provided in exchange for an unexpired canned good, benefiting the Delaware County Hunger Alliance.