COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Marietta College women's basketball team won its third straight game, getting a career-high performance from
Adi Hill (Marietta, Ohio/Marietta). The Pioneers got off to quick start and held on for a 71-58 victory over Capital University Wednesday (Feb. 12) evening on the road. The Pioneers improved to 14-8 overall and 8-7 in the Ohio Athletic Conference. Capital dropped to 17-5 overall and 11-4 in the OAC.
"We knew we had to get out to a fast start against these guys tonight," Marietta head coach
Jenna Andersen said. "Starting on a 14-0 run was not what we expected but it was exactly what we needed. The team fought well tonight, I thought we were the tougher team from start to finish. We have been preaching rebounding all season, and being +13 tonight helped us secure the win."
Marietta jumped out to a 14-0 lead to begin the first period. Hill got the Pioneers on the board with a driving layup to begin the game and later hit from three point range to extend the lead.
Sophie Nelson (Parkersburg, W.Va./Ritchie County) canned a three-pointer at the 4:40 mark and the Pioneers led by 14. The Comets finally answered with a pair of treys to slow the momentum. After Bri O'Connor's three-pointer with less than two minutes in the quarter, the lead was cut to seven.
Abby Garner (Macedonia, Ohio/Walsh Jesuit) came off the bench and nailed a jumper and Marietta took a 18-10 lead into the second period.
Marietta only put up 11 points in the second quarter, nine scored by Hill, but the Comets could not take full advantage. After Capital scored the first three points, Hill answered with a pair of jumpers to extend the Pioneer lead to nine. After Hill then nailed another three at the 5:17 mark, the Comets made a move with a 7-0 run of their own. Kendall Spreen's three-pointer with under two minutes cut the lead to four, but Hill knocked another jumper to close out the half and Marietta led 29-23 going into intermission.
Marietta started the third quarter with the first five points, but Capital roared back with 13-2 run, capped by a triple from Samaree Perkins, tying the game at 36. The Pioneers answered with a seven-point rally, fueled by another Hill three-pointer, to retake the lead. The quarter finished with a flurry of free throws from both teams, but
Sophia Murray's (Rocky River, Ohio/Rocky River) step back jumper helped Marietta take a 50-42 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
Capital stayed in the contest as they began the period with a 9-2 run. Perkins nailed a three-pointer and followed with a driving layup to cut the lead to one at the 8:41 mark. Both teams traded three-pointers over the next four possession, but Marietta finally took control with a back breaking 12-0 run.
TJ Carpenter's (Jackson, Ohio/Jackson) layup, followed by another jumper from Hill, kept the Pioneers in the lead and
Paige Tolson (Guysville, Ohio/Federal Hocking) went 5-of-6 from the free throw line in the closing minutes to cement the win. Marietta would hold on for the victory, 71-58.
Hill finished with a career-best 24 points, hitting four clutch three-pointers. Murray scored nine points and collected five rebounds and two assists.
Perkins led the Comets with 20 points and O'Connor finished with 14 points.
Marietta again hits the road this Saturday (Feb. 15) as they battle Ohio Northern University in the front half of a women's and men's doubleheader. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m for the women's matchup.
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.
