MARIETTA, Ohio — The No. 16 Marietta College women's basketball team won its ninth straight game with a 91-69 drubbing of Capital University Wednesday (Jan. 19) evening in Ban Johnson Arena.
The Pioneers improved to 15-1 overall equaling the 2017-18 team for the best start in program history. Marietta finished the first half of the Ohio Athletic Conference schedule with an 8-1 league record.
"Capital presented a challenge with their size tonight," Marietta head coach
Kole Vivian said. "I thought even though they started four players around six-foot, we were able to do a great job on the glass. And our ball movement made us really difficult to guard."
Marietta used its quickness and an effective full court press to force 20 Comet turnovers in the first half of the game. Those Capital miscues resulted in 29 Pioneer points and the Navy Blue and White led 55-30 at halftime.
Capital (3-12 overall, 0-7 OAC) held a small lead in the opening minutes of the game until the Pioneers went on an 8-0 run to take. A seven-point lead, 14-7, midway through the first quarter. Marietta then finished the period on a 9-0 run, capped off by a three-pointer from
Olivia Gribble (Irwin, Pa./Norwin), to lead 25-14.
The Pioneers took complete control of the game with a 12-2 run to start the second quarter. Gribble scored the final seven points of the spurt giving MC a 27-16 lead just two minutes into the second quarter.
Two layups from
Hannah Kroft (Marietta, Ohio/Marietta) and another from
Kate Liston (Little Hocking, Ohio/Warren Local) closed the period and gave Marietta the 55-30 lead at halftime.
The Pioneers continued to pull away in the third quarter. Two free throws from
Camille Cummins (MIddlefield, Ohio/Cardinal) at the 2:35 mark extended Marietta's lead to 36 points, 75-39. MC led 80-46 heading into the fourth quarter.
Coach Vivian cleared his bench for the fourth quarter.
Paige Tolson (Guysville, Ohio/Federal Hocking) converted one of two free throws with 4:43 left in the game giving Marietta its biggest lead of the night, 39 points, 89-50.
Gribble led all scorers with 17 points.
Hannah Schill (Rootstown, Ohio/Archbishop Hoban) and
Kelly Levering (Powell, Ohio/Olentangy Liberty) scored 12 points apiece, while Kroft added 11 points. Levering and
Erin Hahn (Louisville, Ohio/Louisville) each grabbed a game0high seven rebounds. Schill finished with four assists and four steals, while
Makenzie Wilson (Wapakoneta, Ohio/Wapakoneta) had four assists, two steals and two blocked shots.
Kaylee Cyphers led Capital with 15 points. Laney Murphy and Maddie Dougoud had 10 points each. Kenzie Weiland pulled down five rebounds.
Marietta plays at Ohio Northern University on Saturday (Jan. 22). Tip-off is set for 2 p.m.
Fans can follow the Pioneers all season long at
pioneers.marietta.edu. You can also follow the Pioneers on Facebook at
facebook.com/MariettaCollege and @MariettaPioneer on Twitter and Instagram.
