Wittenberg Tops Denison In Overtime Thriller
After leading almost the entire game, the Wittenberg Tigers saw their advantage evaporate in the final minutes of regulation against Denison on Tuesday in the HPER Center. A freshman then came off the bench to rescue the Tigers and put sophomore post Ali Rohlfs in position to hit the game-winning jumper with just six seconds left in overtime, which gave Wittenberg an 82-80 victory over the visiting Big Red.
SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - After leading almost the entire game, the Wittenberg Tigers saw their advantage evaporate in the final minutes of regulation against Denison on Tuesday in the HPER Center. A freshman then came off the bench to rescue the Tigers and put sophomore post Ali Rohlfs in position to hit the game-winning jumper with just six seconds left in overtime, which gave Wittenberg an 82-80 victory over the visiting Big Red.
Freshman wing Rachel Dixon scored six straight points in overtime - first on a conventional three-point play and then on a three-point shot - to rally the Tigers from a one-point deficit to a five-point lead with 1:39 remaining. After Denison rallied with five straight points by Sarah Perrine, the same player who hit the three-pointer with 1:02 left in regulation to send the game to overtime, Wittenberg put together a patient offensive set on its final possession, working the ball into Rohlfs, who hit a short shot for the last of her 10 points in the game.
Denison's final shot caromed off the rim just before the buzzer sounded and Dixon collected the rebound to assure the Tigers of their third straight North Coast Athletic Conference victory to start the 2005-06 title chase. Denison, which defeated Wittenberg three times a year ago en route to tying the Tigers for second place in the regular season and then winning the NCAC Tournament, fell to 9-3 overall and 1-2 in the NCAC.
The Tigers, who improved to 6-5 overall, were paced offensively by junior wing Megan Miller, who canned 4-of-6 three-point attempts and 4-of-5 free throws to finish with a game-high 16 points to go along with seven rebounds. Also reaching double figures in the game were junior post Kathy Hittle, who finished with 15 points and nine rebounds, Dixon with 15 points, Rohlfs with 10 points and 10 rebounds, and junior wing Rachel Clark-Haggy with 10 points and five rebounds.
Wittenberg won the rebounding battle convincingly, 52-35, which was a key because the Tigers committed six more turnovers in the game. Perrine led Denison with 15 points to lead four Big Red players in double figures offensively.