COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Capital University women's basketball team (8-4, 3-2 OAC) hosted their first game of the new calendar year on Wednesday evening, welcoming Wilmington (2-9, 0-5 OAC) to town. The Comets led from the very beginning, finishing with their fourth straight win, 68-50. The Purple and White have now won each of the last four games by 17 points or more.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Both teams started slow shooting the ball with a combined 15 points in the first quarter, Capital having nine and Wilmington having six. Despite the slow start, the Comets kept control of the game on defense, not allowing the Quakers to make a field goal until almost four minutes into the second quarter. Before that, WC had gone 0-for-15 and scored only off of free throws. The Purple and White would go on to outscore Wilmington 2-to-1 in the quarter (25-11) and hold a 34-18 lead at halftime.
Things slowed down a bit again in the second half as the Quakers crawled their way back into the game. WC would draw within seven by the end of the third quarter, and get the deficit down to six in the early moments of the fourth before Capital started to pull away again. The Comets finished the game on a 19-7 run to break away to an 18-point win, 68-50.
THE NUMBERS
Bri O'Connor netted a season-high 22 points on a sharp 7-of-12 shooting effort. She also kept her nerve at the free throw line, converting 5-of-6 charity shots. Elsewhere, she added five boards, two assists, a block and three steals.
Samaree Perkins also scored a season-high 17 points thanks to 50% shooting and seven free throws. She capped off her third straight double-double with 11 rebounds. She chipped in one assist as well.
Maddi Weiland had herself a day on the glass, recording a career-high 13 rebounds. The effort was just her third career double-digit rebounding performance. The masterclass in rebounding was almost matched with her first career double-double as she netted nine points as well.
Fellow starters
Demi Brewer and
Laney Murphy combined for 15 points, while
Kendall Spreen (3) and
Katie Burke (2) added a combined five points off the bench.
Murphy and Weiland each had two blocked shots in the game as well.
UP NEXT
Capital will travel north to take on John Carroll University in Cleveland this coming Saturday, January 6th. Tipoff is slated for 2 p.m.
