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Marietta women clinch three-seed in OAC

TIFFIN — The Marietta College women’s basketball team had a convincing 82-61 win over Heidelberg University Saturday afternoon.

The win secured the three-seed in the Ohio Athletic Conference Women’s Basketball Tournament. The Pioneers, improved to 17-8 overall and 12-6 in the OAC, will play host to Mount Union at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the OAC Quarterfinals.

Head coach Kole Vivian said, “We had really good focus on defense today from the opening tip, and we moved the ball as good as we have all season on offense.”

The teams swapped baskets early in the first quarter and Marietta led, 5-4 two minutes into the game. The Pioneers opened up a 10-0 run that spanned three minutes and put Marietta up, 15-4. The run was led by Corrie Burkhardt and Shay Lett as they each scored four points during the run. The Pioneers continued to pull away and took a 22-10 edge into the second quarter.

Marietta continued its momentum in the second quarter with a quick 8-0 run, to extend the lead to 30-10. The run was started by a Luce Duritza layup and capped by a three pointer from Jordyn Kiser. After two minutes of scoreless play the Student Princes went on an 8-2 run to cut the Pioneers lead to 32-18, with just over four minutes to play in the half. Marietta closed out the half and led, 42-26 at the intermission.

Lett opened the third quarter with five straight points for the Pioneers and Marietta stretched its lead to 47-26, a minute into the quarter. The teams traded baskets for the majority of the third quarter, and the Pioneers led 63-37 behind a layup from Jo Herd-Middlebrooks. Heidelberg ended the third quarter on a 5-0 run that cut the Pioneers advantage to 63-42.

Marietta was able to extend its lead through the first five minutes of the fourth quarter and led 80-51. The Pioneers were able to keep the Student Princes at bay, and won the game 82-61.

“I am so excited how we ended the regular season, and we are carrying some momentum into the OAC tournament,” concluded Vivian.

The Pioneers were led by Lett as she scored 19 points, had three assists, and grabbed two rebounds. Burkhardt pitched in with 17 points, and a team high eight rebounds. Alexis Enochs added 15 points, six rebounds, and a block in the game. Duritza tied a career high with eight points, and grabbed three rebounds.

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