BOX SCORE
COLUMBUS, Ohio - The Capital University women’s basketball team used rebounding, transition baskets, and passing to defeat Marietta University 81-55. The Crusaders (7-2, 4-0 in the Ohio Athletic Conference) out rebounded the Pioneers 47-26, and scored 28 fast break points compared to two for Marietta (2-10, 0-5 OAC). Capital also tallied 24 assists.
“At times we looked really good, and were able to ignite our offense by pushing the ball and finding open people. There was good defense and good transition on offense, but we need to continue to get better everyday,” Capital Head Coach Dixie Jeffers said.
Junior Kristen Richardson (Oxford, OH/Talawanda HS) led Capital with 22 points on 11-of-14 shooting.
“We have a deep bench, so the goal was to run (Marietta) down the floor,” Richardson said, who also hauled in seven rebounds and notched five assists. “Our defense played well at times swarming the ball, but we need to be more consistent throughout the game.” Richardson said.
Capital’s 81 points was the highest scoring output thus far this season, surpassing the 77 the Crusaders scored November 25 against Kenyon College. It was also the most points scored in a regulation game by Capital since January 5, 2008, when the Crusaders scored 90 in a victory at Marietta.
“We wanted to make their legs tired by getting quick transitions, and by doing that making things easier for us in the second half,” said Hilary Kuhns (Fairfield, OH/ Fairfield HS), who added nine points (on four-of-seven shooting) and four assists.
Kuhns and Richardson combined on a pair of big plays to put the game out of reach at the nine minute mark of the first half. Kuhns began with a block and then grabbed the rebound and threw a full court pass to Richardson on a fast break layup with 8:53 left in the opening stanza. The freshman responded with a steal to setup another fast break basket on a long pass to Richardson with 8:38 left. The pair of buckets gave Capital a 15-point lead at 26-11 and Marietta would get no closer than 14 the rest of the way.
Senior Caitlin Elsass (Batavia, OH/Clermont Northeastern HS) was second for Capital in scoring with 14 points on seven-of-12 shooting. Junior Abbey Winland (Zanesville, OH/ Zanesville HS) contributed with eight points (on three-of-six shooting) and four assists.
The Crusaders host Mount Union on Wednesday, January 7 at 7:30pm.