COLUMBUS, Ohio — Capital University jumped out to an early lead and never looked back en route to a 69-48 Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) women's basketball victory over visiting Marietta College Wednesday (Feb. 3) night at the Capital Center. [Box Score]

Marietta, who was forced to play without the services of injured freshman standout Aleisha Guiler (Lower Salem, Monroe Central), fell to 3-17 overall and 1-12 in the OAC. Capital improved to 14-6 overall and 11-2 in league play.

Junior Mallory Hoff (New Metamoras, Frontier) and sophomore Lizz Wilson (Ashtabula, Edgewood) picked up the slack for Guiler by combining for 19 points and 12 rebounds in the game. Hoff led the Pioneers with 11 points and seven boards, while Wilson had eight points and five rebounds.

Caitlin Elsass scored a game-high 17 points for Capital. In addition, Kristen Richarson finished with nine points and Shalena Hawkins had eight rebounds.

A layup by Wilson on Marietta's first possession gave the Pioneers a 2-0 lead. Capital, however, took quick control by scoring 24 of the next 25 points over the first nine minutes of the game to take a commanding 24-3 advantage. The Crusaders pushed their lead to as many as 28 points in the first period before taking a 38-16 lead into intermission.

The Pioneers out scored the Crusaders 32-31 in the second half but could not overcome the large first-half deficit and fell 69-48.

Marietta is back in action on Saturday (Feb. 6) afternoon when they open a Winter Weekend doubleheader against Heidelberg University at 1 p.m. The Pioneers and Student Princes will then battle in men's action at 3 p.m.