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"Hoops for the Cure" set for Wednesday

The Capital University women's basketball team was unable to find its offensive rhythm Saturday in a 58-45 setback at No. 23 Mount Union in an Ohio Athletic Conference contest in Alliance, Ohio.

The Crusaders (13-6 overall, 8-4 OAC), who remain in fourth place in the league despite the loss, shot just 29.5 percent for the game, their lowest shooting percentage in a road affair this season.

"Once again, our defense played well enough for us to win, but we need to make some shots on the offensive end," Capital coach Dixie Jeffers said. "We got great looks, but just didn't finish."

The Purple Raiders (16-3, 10-2), who are ranked 23rd in the most recent D3hoops.com Top 25 Poll, shot 47.6 percent in the first half and 41.2 percent for the contest, and knocked down 9-of-12 free throws in the second half.

SportsTime Ohio will televise Saturday's game on Sunday at 12 p.m.

Junior forward Jamie Caton (Hilliard, Ohio; at right) led Capital with 16 points, five rebounds and four steals. Junior guard Cookie Geroski (Fostoria, Ohio) added 11 points and four boards, while senior forward Stacy Timmerman (New Bremen, Ohio) climbed to within 33 points of 1,000 for her career with nine as well as a team-best seven rebounds.

After the Crusaders took a 14-12 advantage with 12:53 to play in the first half, Mount Union quickly flipped the score with an 11-0 run to take a 23-14 lead at the 5:44 mark. Capital narrowed the margin to four at 27-23 by the end of the first period on a buzzer-beating jumper by Geroski.

In the second, the Crusaders got as close as three points after a jumper by Caton with 14:04 on the clock, but an 8-0 push gave the Purple Raiders a 42-31 lead with 9:52 to play. Capital got no closer than nine points the rest of the way.

The Crusaders held a 13-9 advantage in points off turnovers, but the Purple Raiders doubled up Capital on points in the paint (28-14).

The Crusaders return home to continue OAC play this Wednesday against Wilmington. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at the Capital Center, where the team will also hold a "Hoops for the Cure" event to benefit the Susan G. Komen for the Cure.