OWU, UWW grateful for one more W

More news about: Ohio Wesleyan | Stockton | UW-Whitewater
Nov 21, 2023
 
Kasey Schipfer made sure the NCAC's top teams stayed one stop ahead of the OAC's top teams as Ohio Wesleyan held off No. 10 Ohio Northern.
Photo by Paul Vernon


Ohio Wesleyan savored a 58-55 victory over No. 10 Ohio Northern at home while No. 9 UW-Whitewater rallied past Illinois Wesleyan on the road and the Stockton men started conference play with a big win on the last full night of Division III basketball before the Thanksgiving break.

After Ohio Northern took a 31-21 lead early in the second half, Ohio Wesleyan ripped off 15 straight points, capped by All-American Kasey Schipfer’s jumper midway through the third period. Schipfer scored 14 of her game-high 26 points in the second half, including two free throws with 11 seconds left. Ohio Northern called timeout to set up its final possession, but failed to get a shot off. Box score

Ohio Wesleyan improved to 4-1 with back-to-back wins over OAC title contenders Marietta and Ohio Northern. Angela Kumer posted 22 points, 14 rebounds and five assists, and Oberlin (5-0) rolled over Mount Union, 75-54.

Wittenberg pushed Alma to double overtime before falling to the Scots, 97-95. Taylor Sas poured in 39 points and Maddie Robbins narrowly missed a triple-double (10 points, 10 assists, eight rebounds) for Alma. Wittenberg suffered its first loss following wins over Ohio Northern, Albion and No. 17 Trine.

Will the first Top 25 poll of the regular season be Hope-less when it’s released next Monday afternoon?

That’s a possibility because Wisconsin Lutheran dropped No. 21 Hope, 79-68. The Warriors led for all but the first 64 seconds of the game and held a 27-10 lead after one quarter. Wisconsin Lutheran hit 13 three-pointers in 25 attempts and got a double-double from Sam Leiseman (18 points, 12 rebounds).

No. 9 UW-Whitewater came from behind to tip Illinois Wesleyan, 82-80, at the Shirk Center and ran its record to 5-0.

Caite Knutson’s layup put the Titans in front 76-69 midway through the fourth period, but the Warhawks held the IWU without another field goal for almost five minutes.  That allowed UW-Whitewater to grab the lead on Kate Hildebrandt’s three-point play with 1:50 remaining. Kacie Carollo’s jumper extended the Warhawks’ lead to four in the final minute and her basket proved the game winner.

All-American Aleah Grundahl posted 33 points, 13 rebounds and five assists for UW-Whitewater.

Mass-Dartmouth is also 5-0 after the Corsairs beat their second defending conference champion in three days. Mass-Dartmouth followed up Sunday’s win over NEWMAC champion Smith with an 89-72 victory at home over CCC title winner Roger Williams. Kaylin Zalewski and Melanie DeMeo scored 21 points apiece for the Corsairs (5-0).

The top two teams in the Centennial Conference preseason poll opened conference play against each other, and Johns Hopkins topped defending champions Gettysburg, 66-63. Kendall Dunham scored 13 of her career-best 15 points in the Blue Jays’ 29-point fourth quarter.  

The tables turned in the men’s side of that double header, as Gettysburg beat No. 12 Johns Hopkins, 70-56. Jordan Stafford led the Bullets (4-1, 1-0 Centennial) with 17 points and seven rebounds, while the Blue Jays (2-4, 0-1 Centennial) shot just 4-for-22 from three. No. 11 Swarthmore had a better start to its conference season, rolling past Muhlenberg, 77-58.

Stockton started NJAC play on the right foot, beating defending champions Rowan on the road, 76-73. Christian Armstrong-Thomas racked up 28 points and 13 rebounds for the Ospreys who were picked third in the NJAC preseason poll behind Rowan and Montclair State.

Cabrini picked up its first win of its final season, beating Scranton, 74-62. The Cavaliers got 23 points combined off the bench from Bryan Warren and George Marion.  Next Wednesday, Cabrini (1-5) will play its Eagle Road rival Eastern one final time before the college closes its doors at the end of the academic year.