Lady Quakers advance to semi-finals with win

Four players score in double figures in victory

[BOX SCORE]

Courtney Balser

February 22, 2005

WILMINGTON, Ohio — The Wilmington College Lady Quakers used a 12-2 run to start the game and never looked back, defeating Heidelberg 79-61 in the first round of the Ohio Athletic Conference Tournament.

Four players reached double figures in the scoring column, led by Courtney Balser's (Pleasant Plain/Little Miami) 19 points.

The hosts scored the first five points of the game, and 12 of the first 14, jumping out to a 12-point lead five minutes into the game. The first half lead grew to as many as 19 before the visitors ended the half on a 5-0 run, cutting the deficit to 14 by the break.

The Student Princes closed to within 10 with a 4-0 run to start the half before the Lady Quakers put their foot on the gas pedal with a 15-2 run to put the lead to 23. The lead grew to as many as 24, before head coach Jerry Scheve emptied the bench, as all 20 players in uniform saw action in the 18-point win.

Balser scored 19 points while Erica Smith (Union/Northmont) scored 16, Kelly Peters (Spencerville/Spencerville) scored 13 and Anne Haky (North Olmsted/North Olmsted) added 10. Peters pulled down a game-high eight rebounds while Siobhan Zerilla (Cincinnati/Mercy) grabbed eight in just 20 minutes of action, as the Lady Quakers out-rebounded Heidelberg 51-39. Haky dished out nine assists in the game, while Zerilla added three in the winning effort.

Heidelberg was led by Amanda Campbell who scored 19 points while Rachel Babione scored 14 and Sharonda Willis chipped in 11 with nine rebounds.

With the win, the Lady Quakers improve to 22-4 on the season while Heidelberg ends their season with a 12-14 record.

The next game for the Green and White is on Thursday, February 24 as the team plays host to the Crusaders of Capital University with tip-off set for 7:30 p.m. in Fred Raizk Arena in the Ohio Athletic Conference semi-finals.