TIFFIN, Ohio—Transfer sophomore guard Megan Miller (Tiffin/Columbian) scored 12 points and had five rebounds in her Heidelberg University women's basketball debut, but the Berg fell to Ohio Wesleyan University, 63-55, tonight in its 2011-12 season opener at Seiberling Gymnasium in Tiffin, Ohio. Sophomore guard Kathleen Phillips (Sandusky/St. Mary's) poured in 13 points on five-of-19 shooting and matched Miller with a team-high five rebounds to lead the Berg (0-1).

Miller was five-of-11 shooting, including two-of-five from the three-point line.

Phillips knocked down a jump shot at the 16:22 mark of the first half to give Heidelberg a 6-4 lead, but the Battling Bishops (1-0) went on a 10-2 run that spanned nearly six minutes to take a 14-8 advantage with a LaNiece McRae layup as the opening period reached its halfway point.

Heidelberg then went on a 14-8 run of its own, tying the scoring at 22-22 at the 5:37 mark when Miller sunk her first three-pointer of the game. Junior guard Jordan Ickes (Wooster/Triway) was credited with the assist on the play.

Following two more ties, the Berg began to pull away, extending its lead to as many as points before the first-half buzzer, and entered the halftime locker room with a 37-31 lead.

OWU began the second half on a 6-0 run, capped by Tamra Londot's layup that tied the score at 37-37 at the 15:26 mark.

The Berg had its final lead of the game at 42-40 with 13:10 to play when Phillips made a free throw.

Kristen Henning tied the score, 42-42, just seconds letter with a jumper, and the Bishops closed the game by outscoring the Berg, 21-13, over the contest's final 13 minutes.

The Tri-Color shot 31.4 percent (22-of-70) from the field and 70.0 percent (seven-of-10) from the free throw line and tallied 10 assists by nine different players on its 22 field goals. Junior forward Casey Bishop (Orrville) pulled down a team-high nine rebounds and sophomore forward Jessica Simpkins (Sunbury/Big Walnut) grabbed four caroms.

OWU was led by McRae, who notched a double-double with game-highs of 18 points and 10 rebounds. Kandis Walker added 11 points and eight rebounds and Londot hauled in 10 boards to match McRae. The Bishops shot nearly 40 percent (23-of-58) from the field, but made just 13-of-22 from the charity stripe, and outrebounding Heidelberg by a 50-39 margin.

Heidelberg will undertake a nearly 800-mile trek to Boston, Mass where it will play in the Emmanuel (Mass.) College Saints Invitational on Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 19-20. The Berg faces Emmanuel at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday and either William Paterson (N.Y.) University or Moravian (Pa.) College on Sunday.