HIRAM, Ohio - January 30, 2022 – Looking for their fourth-straight win, Hiram women's basketball fell just short against the Wittenberg University Tigers, dropping a close contest by the final score of 76-71 on Sunday inside Price Gymnasium.
 
After Jade Simpson got the Tigers on the scoreboard first, Hiram and Wittenberg traded buckets early in the first quarter. Maddie Rakestraw answered Simpson's layup with a three, giving the Terriers their first lead of the game before the two sides went back-and-forth over the next five minutes.
 
All tied up at 10, Kristie Kalis drained a triple for the Tigers, putting Wittenberg up three, but Thompson answered with a three-pointer of her own on the other end to again even the score at 13.
 
After another Kalis triple though, Wittenberg built its lead, using a 10-4 run to take a 26-17 after one.
 
Iyana Smith quickly cut into the Tigers' lead to open the second quarter, draining a three-pointer just 20 seconds into the period. After a Wittenberg turnover, Thompson cut the Tigers' lead down to four on the fast break, but the Terriers couldn't get any closer and Wittenberg answered with another run.
 
Up by four, the Tigers extended their lead out to double-digits with a 16-5 run, opening a 15-point, 42-27 lead on Semie Brar's three-pointer with 1:38 to play in the first half.
 
However, the Terriers would get the lead back down to 10 heading into the locker room, on Madison Branch's driving layup and Rakestraw's three with 18 seconds left and trailed 42-32 at the break.
 
Simpson and the Tigers quickly extended their lead back to 12 to start the third, but Hiram slowly chipped away at the deficit. A pair of free throws by Selena Vargas and Branch's jumper made it an eight-point game, but Wittenberg didn't let Hiram get any closer the rest of the third.
 
The Tigers led by as many as 12 in the period, by another three, this time by Ella Dukarm, cut the deficit to single-digits, 56-47, heading to the fourth.
 
And though the Tigers again built their lead back out to double-digits to start the fourth, Hiram again chipped away, cutting Wittenberg's lead to seven on Vargas' jumper and to give on another layup by the sophomore forward.
 
Kalis and Josie Williams combined to make it a nine-point game with just under five minutes to play, but Thompson and Valaitis combined for four straight to again make it a five-point game.
 
Down by five, Thompson's step-back made it a three-point game, before Branch found the bottom of the net with her driving layup to make it a one-point game.
 
Wittenberg though, took advantage of a pair of Hiram fouls to again make it a five-point game with four-made free throws, but again the Terriers answered.
 
Thompson knocked down a pair to make it a three-point game, and then following a Wittenberg timeout and turnover, Dukarm found Thompson on the fastbreak, cutting the Tigers' lead to one, 72-71, with 35 seconds remaining.
 
Hiram fouled Kalis, who hit both free throws on the other end, and though the Terriers had a pair of threes to tie, both fell short, and the Tigers eked out a 76-71 victory.
 
Hiram drops to 6-12 (2-8 NCAC) with the loss, while Wittenberg moves to 8-7 (4-4 NCAC) with the win.
 
Thompson led the Terriers with 19 points, while Branch and Rakestraw joined the junior in double figures with 14 and 10 points apiece. Branch added 11 rebounds for her first double-double of the season, in addition to a team-high five assists.
 
As a team, Hiram shot 44.4 percent and held Wittenberg to 37.5 percent shooting, while outrebounding the Tigers, 41-36 as well.
 
The Terriers next travel Greencastle, Ind. for a matchup against No. 13 DePauw on Friday, Feb. 4 at 6 p.m.