SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - With the Wittenberg women's basketball team comfortably ahead of visiting Wooster in the closing minutes, Tiger Head Coach Sarah Jurewicz offered senior Amber Rice (South Charleston, Ohio/Southeastern) some unusual counsel, considering the situation.
"Shoot the ball," Jurewicz told her sharp-shooting standout guard who had just topped the 30-point mark for the first time in her collegiate career. Rice always does what she is told, and with just under 30 seconds remaining in a 90-45 victory, she broke a 33-year-old school record with her 36th point on a free throw.
Rice, who is averaging 18.1 points per game in the 2013-14 season, provided a much-needed spark for an injury-riddled Tiger team that was without the services of five players against Wooster. The win improved Wittenberg to 8-5 overall and 3-2 in the North Coast Athletic Confererence (NCAC), heading into the most challenging road trip of the season at No. 1-ranked defending national champion DePauw on Wednesday, Jan. 15.
The Tigers led from start to finish against the Scots, shooting nearly 60 percent in the first half en route to a commanding 49-17 halftime advantage. Rice scored 17 of the Tigers' points, including a perfect 3-for-3 from three-point range as Wittenberg finished the opening 20 minutes 6-of-9 from long distance.
Wittenberg cooled off early in the second half before Rice kickstarted the offense again. For the game, Rice hit 12-of-19 shots from the field, including 5-of-7 from three-point range, and 7-of-7 from the free throw line. She also contributed 10 rebounds and four assists.
Rice's 36 points broke one of the oldest records in the history of Wittenberg women's basketball. Melinda Wigton scored 35 points in a game during the 1979-80 season, and no one had ever managed more than 33 points in the 33 years since then.
Two other Tigers also reached double figures offensively in the game as junior Katelyn Haralamos (Maineville, Ohio/Kings) finished with 15 points and junior Darbie Zirkle (St. Paris, Ohio/Graham) added 13 off the bench. Also of note was the play of freshman Michelle Brunswick (Middletown, Ohio/Madison), who contributed a career-high 10 rebounds, including four on the offensive end.