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The Marietta College women's basketball team won its sixth straight game with a 60-35 victory over Capital University Wednesday evening in Ban Johnson Arena.
The Pioneers improved to 18-6 overall and 13-4 in the Ohio Athletic Conference. Capital dropped to 13-11 overall and 7-10 in the OAC.
"We guarded the ball pretty well tonight," Marietta head coach Kole Vivian said. "We knew we were going to get some stuff in transition, but their scorers are talented. It was important that we out worked them tonight, which we did, and it didn't hurt that we dominated on the glass tonight. It was good win."
During the game, Devin Hefner scored her 1,000th collegiate point. "Devin is one of our hardest workers," said Coach Vivian. "I was very happy she was able to do this at home. It's a great achievement but I think her teammates were more excited about it than she was." Hefner later added that "it felt pretty good" to reach the mile stone. "I'm happier that we got the win."
Marietta got the first points of the contest as Paige Tolson took a great outlet pass from Kelly Levering and busted a three-point shot from the left wing. The Comets would tie the game at 4 with a jumper and two free throws from Bri O'Connor. The two teams would trade baskets over the next few possessions, but Olivia Gribble's jumper at the 3:53 mark pushed the lead back out to four. Hefner's driving layup in the final minute closed the scoring for the period and Marietta led 14-11 going into the second period.
The Comets rushed out with a 5-0 run in the opening moments of the second quarter and briefly took a 16-14 lead. Demi Brewer hit a mid-range jumper and O'Connor hit from beyond the mark with eight minutes left in the half, but unfortunately, they would not score for the remainder of the period. The Pioneers took complete control of the game with a 15-0 run. Makenzie Wilson tied the game with a jumper from the paint and Tolson buried a three to give the Pioneers a 19-16 lead. Hefner scored the final five points of the spurt giving MC a 29-16 lead going into intermission.
The Pioneers continued to pull away in the third quarter. Madison Cecil opened the second half scoring with a trey and Tolson added two more points with a jumper. Hefner and Gribble nailed consecutive three-pointers and Marietta's extended to 23 points, 41-18. MC led 46-26 heading into the fourth quarter.
Both teams cleared their benches midway through the final stanza. Haley Ross hit a turnaround jumper to give Marietta a 28-point lead and the Pioneers would go on to victory, 60-35.
The Pioneers dominated on the glass, out rebounding Capital 55-29. Marietta also collected 13 steals and blocks seven shots.
Hefner led the Pioneers in scoring with 13 points. Tolson and Erin Hahn finished with nine points apiece, with Hahn pulling down seven rebounds. Levering led the Pioneers with nine rebounds and three assists. Gribble played great defense all evening and led Marietta with three steals. Camille Cummins finished with eight rebounds.
Bri O'Connor led all scorers with 19 points and led the Comets with six rebounds and four steals.
Marietta plays Heidelberg University on Saturday in the regular season finale, which will also be Senior Night. Tip-off is set for 4 p.m.
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COLUMBUS -- David Sanford scored 21 points on his former team to lead Marietta College over Capital University by the score of 82-68 Wednesday evening in Ohio Athletic Conference men's basketball action. The Pioneers improve to 15-9 overall and 10-7 in the OAC. Capital falls to 11-13 on the season and 7-10 in the OAC.
"Great road win for our team tonight," Marietta head coach Jon VanderWal said. "I really feel like we are getting better and starting to find our stride. We are trying to build up momentum down the stretch."
Ethan Andersen scored the first seven points of the game as the Pioneers led from start to finish. Following a Capital bucket, Andersen added a pair of free throws and Sanford drained a three-pointer giving Marietta a quick 10-point lead, 12-2, five minutes into the game.
A Sahmi Willoughby slam dunk extended the margin to 18 points, 21-3, with 11:50 left in the first half. The Comets answered with a 9-0 run cutting the Pioneer lead to nine, 21-12.
Cooper Parrott ended the Capital run with a three-pointer as Marietta scored the next nine points pushing its advantage back to 18 points. The Pioneers took a 12-point lead, 36-24, into halftime. Capital got within nine points twice in the first three minutes of the second half but couldn't get any closer. A Jac Alexander layup with eight minutes left in the game gave Marietta a 20-point lead, 64-44. The Pioneers led by as many as 22 points in the final minutes of the game before settling for the 14-point victory.
Sanford was 8-of-12 from the floor, including three triples, to lead all scorers with 21 points. Andersen finished with 12 points and three rebounds, while Jack Main chipped in with nine points. Parrott, Alexander and Lovenson Xavier each scored seven points.
Dom Moegerle led the Comets with 14 points. Nate Gerber had 10 points and three rebounds, while Griffin Doseck finished with nine points and four boards.
Marietta wraps up the regular season at home on Saturday when Heidelberg University visits Ban Johnson Arena. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m.