TIFFIN, Ohio — Marietta College overcame a slow start to post a 58-41 win over Heidelberg University Saturday (Feb. 19) afternoon in Ohio Athletic Conference women's basketball action. The Pioneers finish the regular season with a 21-4 overall record and 14-4 in the OAC. Heidelberg drops to 3-21 on the season and 2-15 in conference games.
"This was another OAC road game that wasn't a pretty win, but I am really happy to be coming back to Marietta at 21-4," Marietta head coach Kole Vivian said. "We did a great job of taking away their strengths. We need to be able to get in more of a rhythm on offense if we are going to make a run in the OAC tournament."
While the Pioneers never trailed in the game, Marietta found itself in a defensive struggle for the first 15 minutes. A layup from Camille Cummins midway through the first quarter gave the Pioneers a four-point lead, 7-3. The Student Princes stayed close and managed to tie the game, 10-10, at the end of the first period.
The Pioneers opened the second quarter with an 8-0 run to finally take a little control of the game. A three-pointer from Olivia Gribble at the 5:05 mark capped the run. A few minutes later, Jill Congrove scored on a layup extending the lead to 11 points, 23-12. Marietta took a 25-21 lead into halftime.
After the intermission, Marietta got off to a quick start in the third quarter scoring the first nine points of the period. Baskets from Gribble, Makenzie Wilson, Hannah Schill and a three-pointer from Erin Hahn made it 34-21 in favor of the Navy Blue and White.
Later in the quarter, Congrove drained a three-pointer pushing the margin to 14 points, 41-27, with 1:55 left in the quarter.
Kate Liston converted one of two free throws at the 2:43 mark giving the Pioneers their biggest lead of the afternoon, 20 points, 57-37.
Hahn led all scorers with 14 points. She also grabbed eight rebounds. Gribble and Wilson each scored 10 points. Cummins pulled down a game-high nine boards.
Hallie Rogers led Heidelberg with 11 points and eight rebounds.
Marietta earned the No. 3 seed in next week's OAC Tournament. The Pioneers will host No. 6 seed Mount Union on Tuesday (Feb. 22) for a 6 p.m. tip-off.