Quakers upset 20th ranked Otterbein 82-77

Quakers snap 11-game series losing streak

[Box Score]

December 8, 2004

WILMINGTON, Ohio – The Wilmington College Quakers snapped an 11-game, 53-year losing streak to Otterbein College with an 82-77 upset victory in Wilmington on Wednesday evening. Eric Stirling (Brooklyn, NY/LaSalle Academy) led the Quakers with a game-high 22 points in the win.

The Quakers never trailed in the game, as the Green and White jumped out to a 10-2 lead over the first five minutes of the game. The first half lead grew to as many as 15 with 4:12 left in the first half before the visiting Cardinals went on an 11-3 run, cutting the deficit to seven at 34-27 heading into the halftime break.

The Quakers came out firing in the second half, increasing the lead to 18 points with 11:25 to play in the game before the Cardinals started clawing their way back. Otterbein opened an 8-0 run with 3:15 left in the game, cutting the deficit to six, but were only able to get as close as five in the five-point win.

Stirling led the way with 22 points as David Guy (Webb City, MO/Webb City) scored 18 points and Deon Short (Cincinnati/Mt. Healthy) added 12 in the victory. Short and Josh Rohrbacher (Columbus/Beechcroft) each pulled down seven rebounds to pace the squad as Stirling had five assists and four steals, both team highs.

Otterbein put four players in double figures, led by Mark Church’s 18 points while Scott Hadley scored 16 and Tony Borghese and Ross Banaszak each scored 13. Hadley recorded 11 rebounds for a double-double as Borghese and Banaszak each had a trio of assists.

With the win the Quakers improve to 3-4 overall and 1-1 in the OAC while Otterbein falls to 5-2 overall and 1-1 in league action.

The next game for the Green and White is on Saturday, December 11 as the team travels to Tiffin, Ohio to face off against the Student Princes of Heidelberg College with tip-off set for 3:00 pm.