Lady Quakers run past Otterbein 87-67

Balser and Smith each score 18 in the 20-point win

[BOX SCORE]

February 16, 2005

Siobhan Zerilla

WILMINGTON, Ohio — The Wilmington College Lady Quakers used an 18-2 run to start the game, putting the Otterbein Cardinals away early, as they would not get to within single digits the rest of the way in the 87-67 Ohio Athletic Conference win.

Courtney Balser (Pleasant Plain/Little Miami) and Erica Smith (Union/Northmont) each scored 18 points while senior Siobhan Zerilla (Cincinnati/Mercy) pulled down 12 rebounds in her last regular season home game.

The Quakers and Cardinals traded baskets to open the game, before the Green and White went on an 16-0 run over the next five minutes to give the team a 16-point lead that they would not relinquish for the remainder of the game. The Lady Quakers led by as many as 22 in the first half, as the hosts went into the locker room with a comfortable 42-22 lead.

The Cardinals chipped away at the lead, closing to within 13 at 54-41 with 12:18 to play in the game before the Green and White used a 20-0 run, increasing the lead to 33 before emptying the bench and cruising the rest of the way in the 20-point win.

Balser and Smith each scored 18, Balser's coming from a 5-of-13 shooting effort from the field while Smith hit 7-of-9 shots including 4-of-6 from long distance. Katie Streck (Dayton/Carroll) chipped in 13 points, as 13 of the 20 players that saw action reached the scoring column.

Zerilla pulled down a team-high 12 rebounds, as the Lady Quakers out-rebounded the Cardinals 55-37 in the contest. Sam Hood (Lockbourne/Teays Valley) dished out four assists, while Zerilla and Smith each dished out three.

Otterbein was led by Danielle Holbrook, who scored 19 points while Sara Fee picked up a double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds.

With the win, the Lady Quakers improve to 20-4 on the year, and 15-2 in the Ohio Athletic Conference. Otterbein falls to 15-9 overall and 12-5 in league play.

The 20 wins is the fourth straight season with at least that amount, and the eighth time in the last nine years.

Zerilla, the team's only senior, ends her Fred Raizk Arena regular season career, leaving with a career record of 101-15 in her four years, the winningest player in program history.

The Lady Quakers end their regular season with a trip to Marietta, Ohio to face off against the Pioneers of Marietta College with tip-off set for 3:00 p.m.