Box Score COLUMBUS, Ohio – After taking a five-point lead into halftime of Saturday's Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) matchup, the Capital University women's basketball team dropped a 62-56 decision to Heidelberg University at Seiberling Gymnasium.
Kristen Thompson recorded her fourth double-double as part of the loss.
Ten of Thompson's game-high 19 points came in a first half in which Capital responded to an early three-point deficit with a 10-2 run to build some confidence and cushion against Heidelberg (7-8 overall, 5-3 OAC). That lead escalated to 10 points with under seven minutes to go and dipped down to five heading into the locker room, 33-28.
After Thompson opened the second frame with a layup to add to their lead, the Student Princes helped cut it down to one with the consecutive buckets from Carli Patrick and then Allie Hawkins. Their play was part of a 15-4 run that helped the hosts reclaim the lead and build it up to six heading into the home stretch.
Capital (7-8, 3-5) brought it back to a two-possession game and had an opportunity for the comeback twice over the final minute of the game. Heidelberg committed a turnover, but the Crusaders were unable to connect on the next possession. Patrick split her trip to the charity stripe after being fouled and Simonne Gage (Dayton, Ohio) went down to court for a layup to make for a 59-56 score.
After a free throw battle was initiated, Capital went back to work but were victims of a turnover that thwarted their chance for the win.
Capital's scoring struggles where witnessed in the second half when, as a team, they shot just 27.6 percent (8-29) while the Student Princes upped their output by shooting 52.2 percent and connected on 3-of-4 three-point attempts.
Thompson had her second straight strong night shooting the basketball, hitting 9-of-14 shots from the field to accumulate 19 points. Her 11 rebounds helped her notch her fourth double-double of the season. It marked her fourth straight game with 10-plus points and second double-double in that span of time. Over her last two games, Thompson is 14-for-22 (.636) from field goal range.
Gage scored 13 points on a 5-for-11 shooting night. The junior added six rebounds, three steals and an assist to her stat line.
Capital will bring their game back to the Capital Center on Wednesday, Jan. 21 when they host Muskingum University at 7:30 p.m.
