Oberlin, Ohio — The Oberlin College women's basketball team defeated Muskingum University, 72-63, in Philips Gym Saturday afternoon.
Senior center
Olivia Canning led Oberlin to victory with a career-best performance, scoring 25 points and racking up four blocks. In the fourth quarter, the senior captain propelled her team to victory, shooting 5-for-5 from the field and 7-of-8 at the free throw line to go along with three rejections. The only other Yeowomen in double figures was junior forward
Maggie Gross as she had a career-best performance with 16 points to go with her five rebounds.
For the Muskies Devyn Bonner led the team with 21 points and five boards, while Emily Yeager chipped in 13 and Kacie Leppla finished with 11.
The Yeowomen got off to the start they wanted as they built up an early nine-point lead when
Jasmine Sorrells knocked down a pair from the charity stripe to make it 17-8 advantage with 2:11 left in the first period. The Fighting Muskies answered the Oberlin start with an 11-2 run to tie the game, 19-19, on a Riayah Johnson jumper.
It was tight the rest of the opening half, but a pair of Canning free throws and a tradition 3-point play by
Cheyenne Arthur to close out the half gave the Yeowomen a 34-29 lead at the break.
In the third quarter, the Muskies slowly worked the game back to even at 42-42 when an Emily Yaeger knocked down a triple with 1:13 left in the frame. Both teams would make field goals in the closing minute to make it 44-44 heading into the fourth.
The fourth quarter was all Yeowomen as they outscored the Muskies 28-19 in the final frame, led by Canning's 17-point period. Oberlin built its lead up to nine when
Leo Ross capped the scoring with two free throws with 12 ticks left on the clock.
As a team Oberlin made up for its 2-for-9 showing from beyond the arc and 20 turnovers by going 24-for-28 from the free throw line. The Yeowomen recorded 11 blocks and finished 23-for-41 from the field (56 percent) on the afternoon. Muskingum won the battle on the boards by a slight 29-28 edge, finishing the day with 16 offensive boards.
The Yeowomen are now 3-2 overall as they ready for a trip to Kalamazoo College next weekend. The team's are set to square off against at 3 p.m. next Saturday.
