HIRAM, Ohio - March 21, 2021 – Hiram College women's basketball wrapped up their Spring 2021 season on Sunday in Price Gymnasium, falling to the Ohio Wesleyan Battling Bishops, 70-55.
After a cold start to the first quarter, the Battling Bishops got things going, opening up an 8-3 lead on a layup by Kenzie Purkey.
Taylor Valaitis splashed a three-pointer to cut OWU's lead to two with 2:18 to play, and from there, the two sides traded buckets and headed into the second quarter with Ohio Wesleyan leading 13-9.
OWU opened up a six-point lead with 8:56 left in the first half on Cierra Joiner's layup, but the Terriers responded with a run of their own, holding the Battling Bishops scoreless for a three-minute stretch and scoring nine-straight to take an 18-15 lead.
Threes by
Madison Branch and
Alex Lichner keyed the 9-0 Terrier run, but the Battling Bishops quickly re-took the lead on a jumper by Kelli Bertoia with just under five to play. Both teams traded leads and buckets down the stretch of the first half, and two free throws by TT Wright gave Hiram a 26-24 lead heading into the locker room.
But the Battling Bishops would come out hot to start the third, using an 11-0 run midway through the quarter to take a 44-33 lead, and outscoring Hiram, 28-14 in the period to take a 52-40 lead into the fourth.
And although Hiram twice got OWU's lead down to single-digits, the Battling Bishops matched Hiram point-for-point down the stretch to take home a 70-55 victory.
The game featured six ties and seven lead changes before OWU took the lead for good in the second half.
Hiram falls to 2-2 with the loss, wrapping up their abbreviated, 2021 Spring season at .500, while the Battling Bishops move to 8-2 with the win.
Wright led Hiram with 18 points, while Branch and Valaitis added 10 points apiece. Thompson and Wright each recorded a team-high six rebounds, while Branch led the Terriers with three assists.
Wright finishes the 2021 campaign with 1,138 career points, good for sixth all-time in Hiram women's basketball program history.
