Box Score COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Capital University women's basketball team won the Marriott - Columbus Airport Holiday Tournament title by defeating Grove City College, 73-50, on Tuesday night at the Capital Center.
Shelby Sheets turned in a career performance with 22 points en route to being named the tournament's most valuable player.
From the very beginning, Capital (6-4) sent the message that it was in control by beginning the game on an 8-2 run. All four buckets were scored by different players, but Sheets scored the first of her game- and career-high 22 points at the end of that run. She then went on to score six of the Crusaders' next eight points to bulk that lead up to 15-9.
Sheets was on fire from three-point range, hitting 4-of-6 deep attempts over the course of the game. In the first half alone, the senior went shot 50 percent (6-for-12) from the field for 16 points of her game total. She ended the day with three steals, two assists and a total of five rebounds.
While Sheets and the Crusaders were scoring at high rates, Capital's defense was doing its job by keeping the Wolverines' scoring to a minimum. Grove City (3-6) shot just 36 percent and was pressured into 12 turnovers in the first half. They ended having shot just 34.5 percent and 20 turnovers, which led to 20 Capital points. This helped the Crusaders bulk up their lead to as many as 23 points before riding out time onto their sixth victory of the season and third straight win.
Capital shot 48.1 percent from field goal range and four of its five starters shot 50 percent or better. Jenna Erwin (Springfield, Ohio) served as the second Crusaders player to put up double figures, finishing with 10 points to go along with five rebounds.
Off of the bench, Courtney Merritt (Cincinnati, Ohio) and Nina Napolitano (Akron, Ohio) each totaled six points. Napolitano led the Crusaders with six rebounds.
Simonne Gage (Cincinnati, Ohio) may have only scored two points, but contributed offensively with eight assists plus four rebounds.
For her efforts over the weekend, Gage was named to the Marriott – Columbus Airport Holiday All-Tournament Team.
Sheets was named the tournament Most Valuable Player behind a two-day stat line that included 24 points, four assists, six rebounds and three steals.
The Wolverines were led by Kelsey Shirey's 14 points off of the bench and Cayley McClean's 12 points and team-high nine rebounds.
Grove City's Kathryn Erbelding was one of three additional players named to the all-tournament team. Joining her was Centre College's Maggie Hartlage and The College of Wooster's Lauren Hancher.
Capital will play one final nonconference game against Hope College (8-1) out of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association. They will play on Jan. 2 at 6 p.m. inside the Capital Center.
