SPRINGFIELD, Ohio — The Marietta College women's basketball team opened the new season by knocking off Wittenberg University, the reigning North Coast Athletic Conference champions, by the score of 65-48 Monday (Nov. 16) evening.
The Pioneers dominated the paint and took advantage of 28 Tiger turnovers in the convincing road victory. Marietta scored 40 of its 65 points in the paint and also tallied 29 points off of Wittenberg turnovers.
Wittenberg scored the first 10 points of the game and looked like they were going to run away with the game. The Pioneers put the slow start behind them and cut the deficit to four points, 16-12, by the end of the first quarter.
Marietta continued to swing the momentum in its favor scoring the first seven points of the second period to take the lead, 19-16. Ashley Frasure tied the game at 16 with a layup and then put the Pioneers in front with a three-pointer.
The second quarter was a huge turn around as Marietta outscored the Tigers 29-11 in the period. The Pioneers took a 41-27 lead into halftime.
Wittenberg battled back in the third quarter getting within five points, 49-44, on a jumper from Ali Miller with 2:10 left in the period. But the Tigers would get no closer. Marietta used a 15-2 run in the fourth quarter to put the game away.
Frasure led three Pioneers in double figures with 17 points. Freshman Corrie Burkhardt notched a double-double in her collegiate debut with 10 points and a game-high 13 rebounds. Jordanna Rauch finished with 10 points.
Frasure grabbed eight boards, while Burkhardt and Amisha Herd each had five steals. Herd dished out a team-best six assists. Brooke Borcih chipped in with nine points and Jenna Andersen added eight points.
Marietta shot 38.4% (28-of-73) from the floor, 33.3% (5-of-15) from three-point range and 57.1% (4-of-7) at the line. Wittenberg was 18-of-57 (31.6%) from the floor, 6-of-30 (20.0%) behind the arc and 6-of-13 (46.2%) at the charity stripe.
The battle of the boards was a draw as each team pulled down 45 rebounds. Marietta turned the ball over 11 times, while the Tigers committed 28 turnovers.
Marietta travels to Danville, Ky. this weekend for the Centre College Classic. The Pioneers play Rhodes College at 5:00 p.m. on Friday (Nov. 20) and Centre at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday.