HIRAM, OHIO  --  Senior forward Brenna Host (Seven Hills/Normandy) scored a career-high 14 points, but the Hiram College women's basketball team came out on the losing end of a 52-48 decision against Ohio Wesleyan University despite holding the Battling Bishops to just 24.6 percent shooting from the field in a North Coast Athletic Conference game at Price Gymnasium.

Ohio Wesleyan (4-12, 3-4 NCAC) led for the first 10 minutes of the opening half and led by as many as five points.  Trailing by three points, 10-7, Hiram (6-11, 1-7 NCAC) went on an 11-2 scoring run to take a six-point lead that included a three-pointer by senior guard Chelsea Kovach (Lakewood) with 4:29 left in the period.  The Terriers led the rest of the way and had a 23-18 advantage at the intermission.

In the second half, Hiram opened with a jumper by freshman forward Christy Griffin (Middlefield/Cardinal) to record its largest lead of the game of seven points, 25-18, with 18:36 left.  The Hiram offense then went cold as OWU scored eight unanswered points to regain the lead, 26-25, at the 15:11 mark.  Junior guard/forward Alexis Kemper (Centerville) connected on a triple on Hiram's next possession to give the Terriers the lead back, 28-26, but the Bishops came back to regain control and never ended up trailing in the game again.  The two teams battled to tie the game for the eighth time, 36-36, with 7:15 left to play following a pair of free-throws by Host.  OWU then outscored Hiram, 11-4, to take a seven-point lead, 47-40, with under three minutes to go.  Hiram made it a one-possession game with 29 seconds on the clock, 50-48, but could not net the equalizer or take the lead, as OWU hung on for the 52-48 final.

OWU shot 24.6 percent (14-of-57) from the field and was just one-of-10 from behind the three-point line.  The difference would come at the free-throw line as the Bishops attempted 35 free-throws, making 23, to Hiram's 22 attempts.  Individually, the Bishops were led by Tamra Londot with a game-high 20 points on eight-of-22 shooting (36.4 percent) in addition to grabbing a game-high 16 rebounds.  Sarah McQuade was the other OWU player to score in double-figures with 12 points.

Hiram shot 30.4 percent (14-of-46) from the field and was led in scoring by Host's 14 points on five-of-12 shooting (41.7 percent).  Host also grabbed eight rebounds, but was the lone Terrier in double figures.  In addition, junior guard Danielle Day (Newbury) recorded a team-high nine boards.

Hiram will host Allegheny (Pa.) College next Wednesday, Jan. 23 in a NCAC matchup at Price Gym.  The game will be part of a basketball doubleheader with the Terrier men's team.  The women will tip-off against the Gators at 6 p.m., followed by the men at 8 p.m.