COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Capital University women's basketball team saw the floor for the final time in the 2022-23 season on Saturday, squaring off with No. 12 Baldwin Wallace. Capital kept it close throughout but ultimately came up short and Baldwin Wallace escaped with a 54-50 decision.
Capital ends the season at 13-12 and 7-11 in the OAC.
Baldwin Wallace will move on at 21-4 overall and 14-4 in conference play.
SENIOR DAY
Before the game, Capital honored its three women's basketball seniors who were playing in their final game at Capital Center.
Demi Brewer,
Kaylee Cyphers, and
Gabby Ledbetter were joined by friends and family for the ceremony celebrating their accomplishments and contributions to the Capital women's basketball program. As a trio, they played in a combined 194 games, scored a total of 630 points, and pulled down a total of 486 rebounds on their way to 37 victories together.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Comets put themselves in a good position early on thanks to some hot shooting to start out. With nearly 46% from the field, Capital spread the ball around and pushed ahead to a five point lead by the end of the first period. However, the tides turned slightly in the second quarter as Baldwin Wallace outpaced the Purple and White 17-11 to take a 27-26 halftime lead.
The third quarter was quite the back-and-forth affair as the teams split the period with BW holding the lead in the first five minutes and Capital taking over in the latter five. That being said, the game always remained within one or two possessions, and with two seconds to go, Baldwin Wallace hit a game-tying three-pointer to square the score 40-40 heading into the fourth quarter.
The fourth quarter was even more of a battle as each side was desperate to pull ahead. In the end, BW got the best of the Comets, taking a four-point lead in the fleeting final moments of the contest and escaping with the game in hand, 54-50.
THE NUMBERS
Bri O'Connor balled out once again, leading the team with 25 points - her 11th 20+ point game of the season – along with a career-high eight steals. Additionally she dished out four assists, pulled down four rebounds, and recorded one block.
Laney Murphy followed up with nine points, two rebounds, one assist, and one steal.
Demi Brewer and
Maddi Weiland had six points apiece. Brewer also had six boards, two assists, and one steal in her final game as a Capital Comet. Weiland wound up with an additional five rebounds, two blocks, one assist, and one steal. She finishes with a total of 49 blocks on the year, just two short of tying the single-season record of 51 set by Carmen Ellis in 1994-95.
Samaree Perkins scored four points with her major contribution being on the boards with a team-high 10 rebounds.
THE OPPONENT
Points - Bella Vaillant (14)
Assists - Izzy Andrews (2)
Rebounds - Bella Vaillant (8)
Steals - Izzy Andrews (4)
WHAT HAPPENS NOW
Unfortunately, the game proved to be the season finale for the Comets. After a post-COVID restructuring of the OAC conference tournament, the top six teams on table advance to the postseason, with the one and two seeds getting byes in the first round. After the loss, Capital falls out of postseason contention and Wilmington will fill the sixth slot.
