Atlanta, Georgia – Traveling by plane to take on the Emory classic in Georgia, the Oberlin College women's basketball team tipped off their two-game weekend against Oglethorpe on Saturday afternoon. In a tightly contested match, the Crimson and Gold came out on top for a 69-61 victory. Oberlin moves to 2-1 on the season ahead of a battle against the host team tomorrow.
 
Grabbing her first double-double of the season, Camille Zinaich led the Yeowomen's offense with a team-high 22 points after going 9-14 in the paint with 11 rebounds. Just behind the senior leader was Ellie Pollock-Ballard with a season-best 18 points and four rebounds. Pollock-Ballard highlighted her fantastic performance with an impressive four three-pointers in the win.
 
Krystal Montas' 13 rebounds guided the Crimson and Gold defense, along with her nine points and two assists. Five other Obies grabbed rebounds in the game. Notching a new career-high in single-game assists with eight, Angela Kumler added six rebounds and a pair of points.
 
The matchup between Oberlin and Oglethorpe was a tightly contested affair from the outset, with the first quarter ending in a razor-thin 14-13 lead for the Petrels.
 
After the tipoff, Oberlin struck first as Lily Najmulski opened the scoring with a layup, assisted by Zinaich. Oglethorpe responded quickly, led by Briley Elder's sharp shooting, including a fast-break three-pointer. Turnovers plagued both teams early—Oglethorpe committed eight, while Oberlin had four—but Oberlin's six steals kept them competitive in a quarter that featured four lead changes and as many ties.
 
The intensity carried into the second quarter, where Oberlin outscored Oglethorpe 22-17 in a dynamic back-and-forth. Early on, Pollock-Ballard made a statement by sinking a three-pointer off a key steal, energizing the Yeowomen. Oberlin's defense shone brightly, with Zinaich recording a block and Najmulski snagging another steal before driving for a layup. The Petrels answered with Elder knocking down another fast-break three to briefly tie the game, but Oberlin surged ahead again. Katherine Csiszar played a pivotal role in the paint, grabbing crucial rebounds and converting them into points. By halftime, Oberlin had built a slight lead of 33-31 thanks to their balanced attack and defensive grit.
 
The third quarter was evenly matched, with both teams adding 13 points to the scoreboard. Defense was the name of the game, as each side tallied two steals. Zinaich made her presence felt in the paint with a tip-in and a layup, while Pollock-Ballard drained a clutch three-pointer with under two minutes left. Oglethorpe's Anna Conza kept the Petrels within reach, sinking vital free throws late in the quarter, but the scoreboard remained tight at 48-44 heading into the final frame.
 
In the fourth quarter, Oberlin pulled away, outscoring the Petrels 21-17 to secure the win. Zinaich delivered in crunch time, hitting jumpers and free throws to maintain the Crimson and Gold's lead. Conza sparked Oglethorpe with two big three-pointers early, but turnovers proved costly for the Petrels, limiting their comeback chances. With disciplined play and timely scoring, Oberlin held firm in the closing minutes to seal the victory.
 
The Yeowomen face a quick turnaround when they take on Emory, who received votes in the D3hoops.com preseason poll. Tomorrow, Sunday, November 17, Oberlin tips off against the Eagles at 3 p.m.
 
Fans can watch all the home matches live online. Home contests can be accessed on a TV through the official Oberlin College Sports Network app on Roku, Apple TV, and Amazon Fire TV.