Box Score ALLIANCE, Ohio – While early indications were that the Capital University women's basketball was well on their way to win number 10 of the season, the University of Mount Union Purple Raiders made their guests work to earn every point needed to hold on to Saturday afternoon's victory. The Crusaders were backed by four double-digit scorers and held off the Raiders, 79-69, to improve to 10-9 overall and continue to climb up the Ohio Athletic Conference standings. In the process, head coach
Dixie Jeffers reached another career milestone, now becoming the OAC coach with the most all-time career wins.
The win propels the Crusaders into a three-way tie for fourth place in the OAC standings. Capital is now locked up with Wilmington, who they most recently defeated, and Heidelberg who they have yet to play a second time this season. All three teams possess 6-6 records in conference play.
Saturday's victory was also monumental for head coach Dixie Jeffers who now has a total of 654 all-time wins in her career than has spanned over 32 years. That win total surpasses OAC coaching legend Dick Reynolds from Otterbein University who amassed 653 career wins in a 40-year career with the Cardinals' program. She now has the most all-time wins of any coach, male or female, in the Ohio Athletic Conference.
Read more about Coach Jeffers' all-time wins accomplishment.
Before the significance surrounding the victory could be celebrated, the action on the court captivated the attention of the crowd at the McPhearson Academic and Athletic Complex (MAAC).
Capital obtained an early nine-point lead, but saw it dissipate with aid to the play of Mount Union's Annie Bova. The trio of Kristen Thompson (Cincinnati, Ohio), Jenna Erwin (Springfield, Ohio) and Shelby Sigman (Bellbrook, Ohio) helped rebuild that early lead. At its peak, the Crusaders' advantage mounted 11 points, 36-25, after Erwin hit a three ball near the six-minute mark of the first half. However, Capital was limited to just two points off of free throws for the rest of the half while Mount Union clawed its way back into the game to take a 38-36 score in Capital's favor into the locker room.
After the Raiders' Isabella Pecchia converted a three-point play to give Mount Union its first lead since the opening minute, Sigman responded with a long-range make of her own. Up 41-39, Thompson took command with seven consecutive points and nine of the next 11 for the Crusaders to help keep distance between the two teams.
With the one-two punch of Thompson and Nina Napolitano (Akron, Ohio), the Crusaders proved too much to handle down the stretch. Mount Union had its chances and at one time tied the game once again, 57-57 with 9:06 to play. However, Napolitano broke the draw with a layup and Erwin finished on the other end following a steal by Shelby Sheets to begin the breakaway.
When called upon, Simonne Gage (Dayton, Ohio) and Thompson answered to keep the Raiders at least two possessions away from tying it up in the final four minutes. Thompson, who totaled a team-high 19 points in her return to the lineup, scored four of those points during that span of time while Gage notched five of her 17 points.
Napolitano matched Gage's point output and also added three steals and a pair of assists. She went 7-for-10 from the free-throw line and 5-of-6 from field goal range.
After missing the Crusaders' previous game and having limited minutes a week ago at Ohio Northern University, Thompson responded with 19 points and three rebounds, going a perfect 8-for-8 from the floor.
Gage did most of her destruction at the free-throw line, hitting 9-of-12 attempts and then added a 4-for-7 day from the field.
Also joining the team in double-digit scoring was Erwin, who finished with 10 points on 3-of-6 shooting, including one 3-pointer.
Katie Reed led the Purple Raiders with a game-high 22 points while teammate Annie Bova fared well with 16 points.
February will host the final six pivotal games of the regular season and the month-long adventure begins on Feb. 4 at Marietta College (7-12, 3-9 OAC). Tipoff between the Crusaders and Pioneers is set for 7:30 p.m.
