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The No. 16 Marietta College women's basketball team won its ninth straight game with a 91-69 drubbing of Capital University Wednesday evening in Ban Johnson Arena.
The Pioneers improved to 15-1 overall equaling the 2017-18 team for the best start in program history. Marietta finished the first half of the Ohio Athletic Conference schedule with an 8-1 league record.
"Capital presented a challenge with their size tonight," Marietta head coach Kole Vivian said. "I thought even though they started four players around 6-foot, we were able to do a great job on the glass. And our ball movement made us really difficult to guard."
Marietta used its quickness and an effective full court press to force 20 Comet turnovers in the first half of the game. Those Capital miscues resulted in 29 Pioneer points and the Navy Blue and White led 55-30 at halftime.
Capital held a small lead in the opening minutes of the game until the Pioneers went on an 8-0 run to take. A seven-point lead, 14-7, midway through the first quarter. Marietta then finished the period on a 9-0 run, capped off by a three-pointer from Olivia Gribble, to lead 25-14.
The Pioneers took complete control of the game with a 12-2 run to start the second quarter. Gribble scored the final seven points of the spurt giving MC a 27-16 lead just two minutes into the second quarter.
Two layups from Hannah Kroft and another from Kate Liston closed the period and gave Marietta the 55-30 lead at halftime.
The Pioneers continued to pull away in the third quarter. Two free throws from Camille Cummins at the 2:35 mark extended Marietta's lead to 36 points, 75-39. MC led 80-46 heading into the fourth quarter.
Coach Vivian cleared his bench for the fourth quarter. Paige Tolson converted one of two free throws with 4:43 left in the game giving Marietta its biggest lead of the night, 39 points, 89-50.
Gribble led all scorers with 17 points. Hannah Schill and Kelly Levering scored 12 points apiece, while Kroft added 11 points. Levering and Erin Hahn each grabbed a game-high seven rebounds. Schill finished with four assists and four steals, while Makenzie Wilson had four assists, two steals and two blocked shots.
Kaylee Cyphers led Capital with 15 points. Laney Murphy and Maddie Dougoud had 10 points each. Kenzie Weiland pulled down five rebounds.
Marietta plays at Ohio Northern University on Saturday. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m.
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No. 6 Marietta College 81, Capital 69
BEXLEY -- Capital University had Wednesday night's game even at 37 following the opening half of play, but No. 6 Marietta College dominated the second half en route to securing its 11th straight victory following an 81-69 triumph.
Lucas Islay led the way for the 13-2 Pioneers, who are now 8-0 in the Ohio Athletic Conference, with a game-high 23 points. Jason Ellis went for 14 points and Jac Alexander pitched in 11 counters off the bench.
Capital (8-7, 3-5) missed 10 of 11 from downtown after intermission and were led by Tyler Schreck's 13 points and game-high nine rebounds. Kaleb Crawford added 12 points and seven caroms while Alex Eyink chipped in 10 markers.
The Pioneers, who return to action with a 4 p.m. tip on Saturday at Ohio Northern, committed just seven turnovers and forced 20. That allowed MC to hold a 20-7 points off turnovers advantage. The Pioneers also owned a 33-17 advantage in bench points. Starter Tim Kreeger had eight points and MC also received nine counters off the bench from Ryan Reidy and eight more by Brett Martin.