Quakers unable to keep up with Otterbein in loss

Stephen Gee scored a career-high 24 points in ten-point loss

[Box Score]

(WC Press Release) Wilmington, OH (January 14, 2004) -- The Wilmington College Quakers hung in with the 15th ranked team in the nation, but was unable to keep up, as the Cardinals used a 9-0 run to open a ten-point lead with 6:14 to play in the game. Otterbein ended the Wilmington hopes, as they hit six of six free throws down the stretch, sending the Quakers to the 75-65 loss.

Stephen Gee (West Milton/Milton-Union) led three Quakers in double figure scoring with a career-high 24 points.

Ottebein jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead to start the game, and increased their lead to as many as six four minutes into play. The Green and White clawed their way back, and eventually took a three-point lead with 3:27 to play in the half. The visitors from Westerville proceeded to open a 6-0 run, taking a three point lead that was evened when Josh Rohrbacher (Columbus/Beechcroft) hit a three-point basket with 27 seconds left in the half, as the two teams went into the locker room knotted at 35.

In the second half the Cardinals scored first, and never trailed the rest of the way, as the Green and White tied the game once. The Quaker deficit kept in the low single digits, and was even at one with 8:38 to play in the game, until the visitors opened a 9-0 run, putting the game out of reach for WC. Five points would be as close as the team would come the rest of the way, as the Cardinals hit six-of-six free throws down the stretch.

Gee led all scorers with 24 points while Tyran Thompson (Middletown/Middletown) and David Guy (Webb City, MO/Webb City) scored 11 and 10 points respectively. Rohrbacher and Mike Umpleby (Columbus/Centenniel) were just off of the double figure pace with nine and seven points respectively. Guy and Gee each pulled down four rebounds for the Quakers, while Rohrbacher dished out six assists.

Otterbein put four players in double figure scoring, led by point guard Tony Borghese who scored 16 points, while Scott Hadley scored 12 and DeQuan Owens and Kyle Walton added 11 and 10 points respectively.

With the loss the Quakers fall to 1-12 on the season and 1-6 in the OAC while Otterbein improves to 12-2 on the year and 6-1 in conference action.

The next game for the Green and White is on Saturday, January 17, when the team plays host to the Pioneers of Marietta College with tip-off set for 3:00 p.m.