MARIETTA, Ohio – The Marietta College women's basketball team was in action Saturday (Jan. 5) as they hosted Heidelberg University inside Ban Johnson Arena. The Student Princes defeated the Pioneers, 69-66. With the loss Marietta falls to 9-4 overall and 4-2 in the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) and with the win Heidelberg improves to 7-6 overall and 3-3 in OAC play.
Head Coach
Kole Vivian said, "Hats off to Heidelberg, they did what they needed to get the win. We need to get back to playing Pioneer basketball."
The Pioneers scored the opening basket of the game when
Jo Herd-Middlebrooks (Columbus, Ohio/DeSales) converted a layup. The teams traded baskets for a majority of the first quarter as the game was tied or the lead changed hands, nine times in the opening six minutes of the game. After back to back baskets from Heidelberg, the Students Princes grabbed a 12-8 lead. Marietta cut into the lead as
Cheyenne Barker (Belpre, Ohio/Belpre) hit a jumper, but Heidelberg lead, 16-13 at the end of the first quarter.
The second quarter started as a back and forth battle until the Student Princes opened a 10-2 run that saw them take a 31-22 edge at the 3:07 minute mark in the second quarter. The Pioneers scored the final three points of the quarter as
Jill Congrove (Circleville, Ohio/Logan Elm) hit a foul shot and Barker hit a jumper in the paint. Marietta entered the intermission behind, 31-25.
After Heidelberg scored the first point of the third quarter,
Alexis Enochs (Beverly, Ohio/Fort Frye) and Herd-Middlebrooks made back to back baskets to cut the Student Princes lead to 32-29. The Pioneers continued to rally as they took a 42-37 edge, behind a 13-2 run. The run was sparked by
Bailee Brooks (Akron, Ohio/Cuyahoga Falls) as she notched five of the 13 points during the run. Heidelberg battled back to tie the game late in the third quarter, but a three pointer by
Shay Lett (Chillicothe, Ohio/Chillicothe) as time expired gave Marietta a 50-47 advantage to enter the fourth quarter.
The Pioneers opened the fourth quarter with a pair of foul shot from Enochs, and a free throw from Lett. The Student Princes answered with a 14-0 run that saw them take a 61-53 edge midway way through the final frame. The run was halted by a layup from
Luce Duritza (Pittsburgh, Pa./Shaler Area) off an assist from Brooks. Marietta battled for the remainder of the game, but fell 69-66.
The Pioneers were led by Enochs as she scored a game and career high 27 points, and grabbed nine rebounds. Brooks added nine points, five rebounds, and four assists in the game. Barker provided a spark off the bench as she had nine points, two rebounds, and a block.
Marietta will back in action Wednesday (Jan. 9) when they travel to take on Capital University with the game set to tip at 7 p.m.
Fans can follow all of the Pioneer teams all year long at pioneers.marietta.edu. You can also follow the Pioneers on Facebook at facebook.com/MariettaCollege and @MariettaPioneer on Twitter and Instagram.
