Wittenberg Battles No.12 Ohio Wesleyan in 76-67 defeat
Springfield, OH – The Wittenberg women's basketball team wrapped up their winter break schedule on Saturday afternoon with a competitive home matchup against No. 12-ranked Ohio Wesleyan, ultimately falling 76-67 in a game that remained tight until midway through the fourth quarter.
The Tigers set the tone early with strong defense and balanced scoring, trading baskets with the nationally ranked Battling Bishops before building a brief first quarter lead behind strong contributions from Karley Moore (Tipp City, OH / Bethel) and Karsen Karlblom (Crystal Lake, IL / Prairie Ridge). A timely three from Molly Mossing (Cedarville, OH / Cedarville) helped keep the momentum on Wittenberg's side, as the Tigers trailed just 20-17 after the first.
Wittenberg continued to match the pace and physicality of the Battling Bishops in the second quarter. Karlblom connected from beyond the arc again while Maddie Griga (Cincinnati, OH / Mount Notre Dame) added an interior finish to keep the offense efficient. Defensively, the Tigers forced difficult looks in the half court and limited second-chance opportunities for long stretches. A late three from Mossing and a free throw from Cadence Boyd (Cincinnati, OH / Monroe) trimmed the deficit to 40-37 at the break.
The Tigers carried that energy into the third, immediately tying the game at 40-40 on Karlblom's third three-pointer of the day. Moore continued to attack the paint and Mossing provided a spark off the bench as Wittenberg stayed within one possession for most of the quarter. The Tigers entered the final 10 minutes trailing just 52-50.
The fourth quarter remained tight early, but Ohio Wesleyan generated separation midway through the quarter with a series of defensive stops and transition scores. Wittenberg continued to compete down the stretch, getting to the line and finishing at the rim, but the Bishops' late surge proved to be the deciding factor.
Team Leaders
- Karlblom led all scores with 21 points, adding 10 rebounds and two assists as well
- Moore had 14 points, along with five rebounds and four steals
- Mossing had 16 points off the bench
Wittenberg looks to get back into the win column returning to action January 14th at home against DePauw.
Written By: Luke Thomas