DELAWARE, Ohio – The Ohio Wesleyan University women's basketball team matched up with WashU in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Championship on Saturday night. The Battling Bishops got more scoring chances but the game ultimately came down to offensive efficiency and the battle on the boards. WashU would hold the advantage in those two areas, leading to OWU playing from behind most of the night. In the end, the Bishops came up just short in a five-point loss, 73-68

Ohio Wesleyan's season comes to a close at 21-6. WashU improves to 21-6 and moves on to the round of 16.

The Red and Black came out of the gate with an early lead, starting 9-6 thanks to four from Macy Miller, three from Mia Guscoff, and two from Nora Johns. However, WashU was always right behind with the Battling Bishops' largest lead of the night being a meager three points. The Bears eventually hit a three-pointer at the end of the first quarter to take a lead they would never surrender at 21-18.

OWU's offense slowed in the second quarter with just three points through the first 6:46. This allowed WashU to go on a 9-0 run and increase their lead to 30-21. The Bishops were able to battle back to within two in the latter half of the period thanks to a solo 7-0 run from Maddie Ebbert, making the halftime deficit much more manageable at 32-28.

The Bears inched ever-so-slightly ahead in the third quarter, outscoring the Battling Bishops 16-15. Miller led Ohio Wesleyan's efforts to stay in the game with eight points in the period, leaving a score of 48-43 entering the final 10 minutes.

WashU would extend their advantage to a game-high 14 points in the early portion of the fourth quarter after a 13-4 run made it 61-47. However, once again the Bishops battled back, first cutting the deficit to eight with an 8-2 run, then cutting it all the way down to three with a 13-6 run. Miller was the main catalyst with 11 points in the quarter, followed by Katie Neuhart with four. Unfortunately, three points was as close as OWU would come as the Bears buried a couple late free throws to take the final score to 73-68.



THE NUMBERS
The Bishops shot 27-for-64 (42.2%) from the field, 7-for-16 (43.8%) from deep, and 7-for-16 (43.8%) from the free throw line with 14 assists. Additionally, Ohio Wesleyan secured 25 rebounds (6 ORB, 19 DRB) and made 10 steals and three blocks.

Macy Miller led the Battling Bishops with 23 points and seven rebounds alongside five steals and two assists.

Nora Johns scored 10 points with four assists, two rebounds, and two steals.

Katie Neuhart tallied eight points with two rebounds.

Maddie Ebbert recorded seven points, six rebounds, and three assists.

Mia Guscoff scored six points and made two steals with one assist.

Kendall Dieringer ended with five points, three assists, and two rebounds.

Carly Lehman nabbed four points, two rebounds, one assist, and one block.

Sophia Roush finished with three points, one rebound, and one steal.

Chloe Ebeling made her first career start and scored two points with one rebound and one block.

Claire Wakim collected one rebound and made one block.