BEREA, Ohio – The Marietta College women's basketball team fell 77-73 in double overtime on the road at Baldwin Wallace University, on Friday (Jan. 29) evening. With the loss the Pioneers fall to 1-2 overall on the season and 1-2 in Ohio Athletic Conference play, and with the win the Yellow Jackets are 3-0 on the season, and 3-0 in OAC action.
"Obviously we aren't satisfied with losing in double overtime to a really good opponent, but we have shown so much growth over the last week," said Head Coach
Kole Vivian. "If we continue to make the strides we did since last Saturday, I really like our chances in this shortened season."
Marietta jumped out to an early 5-0 lead when
Bailee Brooks (Akron, Ohio/Cuyahoga Falls) made a layup and
Olivia Gribble (Irwin, Pa./Norwin) knocked down a three pointer. The next three minutes were scoreless, and the Pioneers did not surrender a point until midway through the first quarter, to lead 5-2. After Baldwin Wallace cut the Marietta lead to 6-5, the Pioneers rattled off six straight points to end the quarter with a 12-5 advantage. The final six points of the quarter, were scored by
Madison Cecil (Centerburg, Ohio/Highland),
Luce Duritza (Pittsburgh, Pa./Shaler Area), and
Hannah Schill (Rootstown, Ohio/Archbishop Hoban).
Over the first four minutes of the second quarter the Yellow Jackets trimmed the Marietta lead to 16-12. The Pioneers answered with a 12-2 run that stretched their lead to 28-14, with just over two minutes to play in the half. The run was started by a layup from Gribble, highlighted by a three from
Morgan Borich (Beverly, Ohio/Fort Frye), and capped by a layup from
Jill Congrove (Circleville, Ohio/Logan Elm). Marietta entered halftime with a 30-17 edge.
The teams traded baskets for the opening five minutes of the third quarter, and the Pioneers maintained a 34-24 edge. Marietta went on a quick 6-0 run, that stretched its lead to 40-24 behind a three from Schill, and an old fashioned three-point play from Brooks. Baldwin Wallace responded with a 12-1 run that cut the Pioneers advantage to 41-36, with two minutes to play in the third. Marietta entered the final frame ahead, 45-42.
After a minute of action in the fourth quarter, the Yellow Jackets went on an 8-0 run and took a 52-48 edge, with just under seven minutes to play in regulation. The Pioneers halted the run behind a three from
Kelly Levering (Powell, Ohio/Olentangy Liberty). The teams battled for the remainder of the quarter, and the lead changed hands six times in the final three minutes of play. The late offense came from threes by Levering, Congrove, and Gribble. The fourth quarter ended deadlocked at 64-64 and the teams entered overtime.
The first overtime period was a defensive battle, as the teams each scored two points, and the game remained tied at 66-66, to enter a second overtime. The two points for Marietta came off a jumper from Gribble.
Each team held a lead in the second overtime, and the game was tied at 70-70 with three minutes to play. Baldwin Wallace rattled off six straight points to lead 76-70 with 30 seconds to play. Gribble knocked down a three late for the Pioneers, but Marietta could not complete the comeback and fell, 77-73.
The Pioneers were led by Gribble, she had a career high 19 points, a game high four assists, and pulled down two rebounds. Brooks added 11 points, and pulled down a career high nine rebounds. Levering provided a spark off the bench with career highs in points, and rebounds with 10 and nine respectively.
Marietta will return to the hardwood Saturday (Jan. 30) when they host Baldwin Wallace University, with tip off scheduled for 6 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.
