MARIETTA, Ohio — The Marietta College women's basketball team fell behind in the second quarter, but attempted a third quarter comeback only to fall short. The Pioneers dropped a conference matchup to Capital University, 86-69, Wednesday (Jan. 31) evening in the Ban Johnson Arena. The Pioneers drops to 10-6 overall and 4-5 in the Ohio Athletic Conference. Capital improves to 13-3 overall and 7-2 in the OAC.
"We played even with them through the game, except for that second quarter," Marietta head coach
Jenna Andersen said. "We knew they were a great three-point shooting team and we just didn't get out defend their shooters very well. Still, I was happy to see how they fought back in the third period. We're a young team and we're learning every game."
Marietta was able to find the scoreboard first as
Hannah Kroft (Marietta, Ohio/Marietta) scored from the paint and
Paige Tolson (Guysville, Ohio/Federal Hocking) followed with a three-pointer to give the Pioneers a quick 5-0 lead. The Comets fought back to tie as Laney Murphy hit from beyond the arc and, after Samaree Perkins followed with a three of her own, Capital led for the first time, 8-7. The two teams then traded the next several possessions on the way to three ties and eight lead changes, but Capital still led by one after a Perkins layup. The Comets followed with a pair of three-pointers from Jenna Horsley to open up a seven-point lead. The Pioneers closed out the quarter with a three-pointer from Tolson and pair of free-throws from Kroft, cutting the lead to 26-23 with Marietta trailing going into the second period.
Capital opened the second period with a 10-0 run, fueled by five points from Bri O'Connor, to open a double-digit lead. Later in the period,
Abby Garner (Macedonia, Ohio/Walsh Jesuit) scored on a driving layup to cut the deficit to 10, but Capital closed out the period with four points from the free throw line and led 49-35 going into intermission.
Capital built the lead out to 20 in the first four minutes of the third quarter, but Marietta attempted to get back into the game as they rattled off the next 14 points. Six different Pioneers scored during the run, and after Tolson's driving layup, the Pioneers only trailed by six. The Comets turned the tables in the final three minutes as they answered with a 9-1 run and took a 69-55 over Marietta heading into the fourth quarter.
Both teams went scoreless for the first three minutes of the fourth period. Capital broke the drought with a pair of three-pointers to extend the lead back out to 20 and put the game out of reach. Capital would cruise to an 86-69 victory.
Tolson led the Pioneers with 27 points, going 7-of-7 from the free throw line. Kroft finished with eight points and four rebounds.
Sophia Murray (Rocky River, Ohio/Rocky River) finished with six points and six assists.
Perkins led the Comets with 21 points and 11 rebounds. O'Connor scored 20 points and dished out four assists
Marietta takes to the road this Saturday (Jan. 25) as they battle Wilmington College in the front half of a doubleheader. The tip-off for the women's game is set for 2 p.m. and the men's game is scheduled to begin at 4 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 X and Instagram.
