Greg Liggens

First half lead not enough for Quakers against Mount Union

WILMINGTON, Ohio (January 11, 2003) ­ The Wilmington College Quakers outscored the visiting Purple Raiders of Mount Union College 45-24 in the first period, before dropping the game to the foe from Alliance in overtime 74-71.

Wilmington (3-10, 1-5 OAC) and the Purple Raiders traded baskets early in the first half as Mount Union held a four point lead, 13-9, with four minutes gone in the period. The Quakers then hit a hot streak, outscoring the visitors 36-11 the rest of the half, opening up a 21-point lead going into the locker room.

In the second half, Mount Union (9-4, 4-2 OAC) kept chipping away at the lead before finally tying the game at 65 apiece with a layup by Rob Paulauskas with ten seconds left in regulation. After an offensive foul by the Quakers, the Green and White forced a Mount Union turnover before WC turned the ball over again as time expired in regulation. In the extra period, Mount Union hit back-to-back three point baskets to give the visitors a six-point lead with 3:30 left in the period. The Quakers chipped away at the lead and cut the deficit to two with 40 seconds left. Will Bruce (Cleveland/Benedictine) blocked a Clay Sanders layup with 10 seconds left, giving the Quakers a chance to tie the game. The Green and White pushed the ball inside, but missed a tough jumper in a crowded lane, giving the Purple Raiders the victory.

Stephen Gee (West Milton/Milton-Union) led the way for the Quakers, scoring 17 points while Greg Liggens (Toledo/Scott) scored 15 and Josh Rohrbacher (Columbus/Beechcroft) chipped in 10 in the loss. Liggens and Rohrbacher each pulled down a game-high seven rebounds while Bruce dished out a team-leading four assists.

Mount Union was led by Brad Gerard who hit 8-of-12 three point baskets for a game-high 24 points. Paulauskas scored 16 points as Sanders and Chris Blakely each chipped in eight points. Curtis Stevens and Aaron Brownsword each pulled down six rebounds as Sanders dished out a game-high 11 assists.

The next game for the Green and White is set for Wednesday, January 15, as the team travels to Westerville to face the defending National Champion Otterbein College with tip-off set for 7:30 p.m.