DELAWARE, Ohio – After earning an at-large bid to host the first and second rounds of the 2026 NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Championship, the Ohio Wesleyan University women's basketball team welcomed DeSales to Delaware for their opening-round clash. It was a game in which the Battling Bishops never trailed, building up to a 44-26 lead at the break before cruising to a 68-53 win over the Bulldogs to advance to the second round.

OWU improves to 21-5 on the year, while DeSales' season comes to an end at 19-9.

Ohio Wesleyan made its home-court advantage felt immediately, racing out to a 12-2 lead and forcing a quick timeout only three minutes in. After talking it over, DeSales answered with six-straight points to make a cut into the deficit, but a strong finish to the first quarter saw the Bishops ahead 25-18.

The Red and Black continued their dominance on both sides of the ball in the second quarter. With 3:24 left in the half, Macy Miller's putback ignited a 10-0 Bishop run, capped off by a pair of clutch three-pointers from Carly Lehman and Mia Guscoff to extend the lead to 17. OWU allowed just eight points in the second quarter while pouring on 19 to take a 44-26 advantage into halftime. Macy Miller logged a near double-double in the first 20 minutes, recording 10 points and nine rebounds. Maddie Ebbert led all scorers with 12 points while tacking on seven rebounds. 

The Bulldogs made the necessary halftime adjustments, stifling the OWU offense during a 13-2 run that cut the deficit to just seven points early in the third. The Bishops quickly regained their composure, as Bella Brader buried a triple to push the advantage back to 13 with 2:36 left in the quarter. Despite DeSales' 19-9 third-quarter surge, the Red and Black held firm to maintain a 53-45 advantage heading into the final 10 minutes.

OWU started the fourth on a 7-0 run, led by a three-pointer from Kendall Dieringer. While the Bulldogs refused to quit, a clutch three from Nora Johns with 3:42 remaining served as the dagger, stretching the Ohio Wesleyan lead to 15 and effectively sealing the victory. The Bishops took down the Bulldogs by a final score of 68-53.



THE NUMBERS
OWU shot 37.7% from the field, going 26-for-69 and knocking down eight triples. The squad went 8-of-11 from the charity stripe. 

The Bishops' second unit ignited the offense, outscoring DeSales 18-3.

Maddie Ebbert led the offensive attack, scoring 19 points. She added nine rebounds, two blocks, and two steals.

Macy Miller continued to be the swiss army knife for the Bishops, recording 18 points and 17 rebounds for her 18th double-double of the season. Miller added an impressive five blocks, five steals, and three assists. 

Kendall Dieringer was the only other Bishop in double figures, pouring in 10 points while also dishing out three assists.

Nora Johns was next with eight points, including two clutch triples. She added four rebounds and three assists. 

Bella Brader, Mia Guscoff and Carly Lehman all drained a three-pointer. Guscoff added two rebounds. 

Katie Neuhart finished with two points and four rebounds.

Claire Wakim had two points and two rebounds. 

UP NEXT
Postseason action continues at Branch Rickey Arena tomorrow as Ohio Wesleyan takes on WashU at 7:15 p.m with a spot in the second weekend on the line.