New Concord, Ohio – The Marietta College women's basketball team used a big third quarter to earn an 84-72 win over Muskingum University on Wednesday (Jan. 8) evening. The win improves to the Pioneers record to 5-7 overall and 1-4 in the Ohio Athletic Conference, and the loss drops the Fighting Muskies to 2-8 overall and 0-5 in OAC action.
Head Coach
Kole Vivian said, "I am really proud of our effort and attention to detail in the third quarter. That was the best we have played all season."
Marietta knocked down the opening two baskets of the game when
Camille Cummins (MIddlefield, Ohio/Cardinal) and
Alexis Enochs (Beverly, Ohio/Fort Frye) each made a layup. The Pioneers maintained their edge and led, 13-9 midway through the first quarter. Late in the first quarter, Marietta opened up a 6-0 run to take a 24-14 advantage with under a minute to play. The run was sparked by a three pointer from
Marlo Taylor (Kimbolton, Ohio/Cambridge). The Fighting Muskies closed out the quarter with five straight points, but the Pioneers led, 24-19 to enter the second quarter.
Muskingum tied the game at 24-24 to open the second quarter, as they scored on their first three possessions of the quarter. The game remained tight, as Marietta held a 29-28 edge behind a foul shot from
Emma Cannon (Wooster, Ohio/Dalton). The Fighting Muskies took a 41-32 advantage behind an 12-4 run. The Pioneers trailed 41-32 to enter the intermission.
The Pioneers came out of the locker room ready to play, when they opened the third quarter on a 10-0 run, to take a 42-41 edge. Enochs scored eight of the points during the run, and
Bailee Brooks (Akron, Ohio/Cuyahoga Falls) scored the other basket. After Muskingum responded to take a 44-42 edge, Marietta answered with a 12-0 run to take a 54-44 lead at the 4:39 mark of the third quarter. The run was highlighted by four points from
Devin Hefner (Parkersburg, W.Va./Parkersburg South). The Pioneers outscored the Fighting Muskies 30-9 in the third quarter, and led 62-50 to enter the final frame.
Marietta continued to pull away in the fourth quarter, as they opened the final frame on an 11-2 run. The run was started by five consecutive points from
Jill Congrove (Circleville, Ohio/Logan Elm) and capped by a jumper from Taylor, which put the Pioneers on top 73-52, just over two minutes into the final quarter. Muskingum attempted to make a couple of runs in the fourth quarter, but Marietta quickly halted the momentum, and never relinquished a double-digit lead. The Pioneers won the game 84-72.
Enochs led Marietta as she scored a game high 24 points, and pulled down nine rebounds. Hefner added 20 points, seven rebounds, and a game high five steals. Cummins and Taylor each tallied 10 points to the Pioneers offense in the game.
Marietta will return to the hardwood Saturday (Jan. 11) when travel to battle Heidelberg University with tip-off scheduled for 3 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.
