Tigers Fall in Last Game of 2025

Springfield, OH - Wittenberg Women's Basketball hosted the Marietta Pioneers in the final game on the 2025 calendar, but instead of their usual competition space of Pam Evans Smith Arena, the Tigers played in the historic 1929 Gymnasium. Coming into the game on a six-game win streak, the Tiger offense struggled throughout the matchup with Marietta, which took the lead in the second quarter and held on from there for a 60-52 victory.

With the loss, the Tigers moved to 8-3 on the season, while the Pioneers close out 2025 with a mark of 5-7.

The Tigers showed up in the first half, taking a 15-13 lead as six different Tigers scored and each starter contributed at least two points. Senior Karsen Karlblom (Crystal Lake, IL / Prairie Ridge) sparked the Tiger offense with five points in the first. Early in the second quarter, the Tigers built their lead to 19-16, but the Pioneers caught fire and played stellar defense to go on a 10-0 run to take a 26-19 lead before the Tigers scored again and the half ended with the Pioneers leading, 28-24.

To start the third quarter, Karley Moore (Tipp City, OH / Bethel) cut the Marietta lead to two, but the Pioneers answered quickly and pulled out to a nine-point lead, which was cut down to five halfway through with a Moore layup and a pair of free throws from Karlblom. Unfortunately for the Tigers, the Pioneers once again ballooned their lead to nine, 45-36, heading into the fourth. In the fourth, Marietta scored to put themselves up by double digits at 11, but the Tigers clawed back to go down by only four with a minute left after a Karblom three. They would get no closer, however, as the Pioneers hit their free throws.

Team Leaders

• Two Tigers scored in double-digits, as Karlblom dropped 15 and Moore finished with 10.
• Myah Johnson (Jeffersonville, IN / Jeffersonville) led the team with six rebounds, while Moore and Hope Orders (Grove City, OH / Bishop Ready) grabbed five apeice.
• Four different Tigers led with two assists each and three Wittenberg players tied for the lead with multiple steals while three different players added a block each.

Team Comparison

• The Tigers shot 19-62 (30.6%) from the field, 5-20 (25%) from three and 9-12 (75%) from the line. They pulled down 28 rebounds, dished out 12 assists, but tunred the ball over 23 times. Wittenberg scored 19 points off turnovers, secured 13 second-chance points, and the bench added 15 points.
• The Pioneers went 20-47 (42.6%) overall, 5-18 (27.8%) from deep and 15-24 (62.5%) from the stripe. They grabbed 29 reounds, only logged 10 assists and had 18 turnovers. Marietta matched the Tigers with 19 points off turnovers, only had six second-chance points, but their bench scored 19.

Next Up

The Tigers will play their second conference game of the season at Wooster on Saturday, January 3, at 2:00 p.m., while the men play Wooster as well at home on January 3 at 7:00 p.m.

Written By: Grant Martin