BEREA, Ohio — The Marietta College women's basketball team battled icy roads and chilly temperatures as they traveled to Baldwin Wallace University for a mid-December conference clash.  Despite a lead at halftime, the Pioneers fell behind in the third period and could not make up the difference as they were defeated by the #21-ranked Yellow Jackets, 62-51, on Sunday (Dec. 14) afternoon.  Marietta falls to 4-6 overall and 0-2 in the Ohio Athletic Conference. Baldwin Wallace improves to 6-2 on the season and remains undefeated at 3-0 in conference games.

Both teams got off to cold starts with a series of missed shots and turnovers, but the Pioneers finally struck first with a jump shot from TJ Carpenter (Jackson, Ohio/Jackson) to take the early lead.  The Yellow Jackets answered quickly on the next possession with a layup from Brooke Thompson to tie it up.  The shots continued to fall for the Pioneers as Kelsey Harlan (Sardis, Ohio/River) nailed a three-pointer and Amelia Uhrig (Chillicothe, Ohio/Unioto) hit from mid range to push the lead to 7-4.  Late in the quarter, Harlan provided four points in short order with a layup and a pair of free throws on consecutive possessions to push the Pioneer lead to seven with less than in a minute.  BW's Kayla Jones got the finals points, though, cutting the Pioneer advantage to 15-10 at the end of the first quarter.
 
The Pioneers held the lead for the early part of second quarter, extending the lead to seven as Harlan hit a three pointer at the 8:16 mark.  The Yellow Jackets then ran off the next eight points, the final three coming from a layup and bonus free throw from Thompson, and took their first lead of the contest.  After some traded points, the Pioneers got buckets from Abby Garner (Macedonia, Ohio/Walsh Jesuit) and Ava Heller (Thornville, Ohio/Sheridan) to put the lead at 25-22 with less than four minute left in the half.  Baldwin Wallace got a clutch three pointer from Kelcie Badylak and a pair of free throws from Ava Wilkerson and found themselves in the lead with less than a minute left.  Uhrig scored a layup in the closing seconds for the Pioneers and Marietta took a 30-29 lead into intermission.
 
The Yellow Jackets got the first baskets to fall in the third period to retake a 33-30 lead.  Despite getting a pair of shots from Carpenter, Baldwin Wallace would immediately answer every time.  BW then went on a 6-0 run to lead by nine points with 3:33 left in the quarter.  Marietta got those points back on the next three possessions as Sarah Podkul (Greensburg, Pa./Hempfield Area) hit from three point range and Kendall Sury (Waterford, Ohio/Waterford) provided three points to close the gap.  Marietta trailed 47-42 going into the final period.
 
The fourth period was a tough one for the Pioneers as cold shooting prevented them from getting back into the game.  Marietta only managed nine points, shooting 4-for-16 in the final period, and fell to the Yellow Jackets, 62-51.

Harlan led Marietta with 11 points.  Uhrig and Carpenter each finished with 10 points apiece.  Uhrig also led the Pioneers with six rebounds.

Thompson paced the Yellow Jackets with a double-double, leading Baldwin Wallace with 13 points and 14 rebounds.

Marietta returns home to the Ban Johnson Arena this Wednesday (Dec. 17) for an OAC matchup with Otterbein University.  Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Fans can follow all 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 X and Instagram.