NEW CONCORD — After the Marietta College women’s basketball team took a double-digit lead into the half, they outscored Muskingum 23-7 in the third period to put the game out of reach and cruised to an 81-47 conference win over the Fighting Muskies Wednesday evening. With the win the Pioneers improve to 10-4 overall and 4-3 in the Ohio Athletic Conference, and with the loss Muskingum falls to 4-10 overall and 2-5 in OAC action.

“Such a great win for our team tonight,” said MC head coach Jenna Andersen. ‘We got off to a slower start than we wanted, but we were able to start rolling in the second quarter. It is always a great feeling when everyone gets into the game and contributes.”

Marietta jumped out to an early 7-3 lead as Paige Tolson opened with a three-pointer and the followed with a layup. Later in the period, Muskingum cut the lead to two point as Laurell Brown and Courtney Hivick converted consecutive layups. Tolson’s trey at the 3:32 mark extended the lead to five and Hannah Kroft got in the scoring column as she converted a layup in the final two minutes, giving the Pioneers a 23-17 lead going into the second quarter.

Both teams experienced a two-minute scoring drought to begin the second period, but Marietta finally got back on track. Sophia Murray cut through the lane for a pair of layups and Tolson hit yet again from behind the arc to push the Pioneer lead to 11. Adi Hill’s jumper at the 5:11 mark gave Marietta their biggest lead at that point and, in the final minute, Kelsey Harlan’s three-pointer extended the lead to 17. Tori Jones answered with a three-pointer of her own in the closing seconds, but Marietta went on to lead 40-26 at the intermission.

Ally Grake opened the scoring in the third period for the Pioneers with a three-pointer, but what followed was a three-minute scoreless drought that both teams had to endure. Tolson finally broke the scoreless streak with a jumper at the 5:45 mark and Marietta began to pour it on after that, finishing the quarter with an 11-0 run that was fueled by three layups from Harlan. As the final seconds of the period ticked down, Marietta would take a 63-33 advantage into the final period.In the final period, Andersen was able to get everyone on the squad some minutes and the Marietta would sail to a 81-47 victory.

Tolson led the Pioneers with 20 points and three assists. Hill went perfect from the line on the way to a 10-point night. Murray came off the bench to score eight point and led the Pioneers with five rebounds.

Jones led with 10 points and Jocelynn Thorn came off the bench to provide eight points for the Muskies.

“We have had a tough go playing three games in four days,” added Coach Andersen. “But I am so incredibly proud of how we have been playing.”

Marietta will return to action Saturday when they travel to battle Baldwin Wallace University, with tip off scheduled for 1 p.m.

MEN

Muskingum overcame a seven-point halftime deficit and some foul trouble to beat Marietta College, 82-77, Wednesday in Ohio Athletic Conference men’s basketball action. The Pioneers fall to 8-6 overall and 2-5 in the OAC. Muskingum is 8-6 on the season and 6-1 in the OAC.

Muskingum scored the first five points of the second half on a layup and a three-pointer from Zaveon Croff. The Pioneers quickly regrouped and maintained a small lead through the first six minutes of the second half.

The Muskies used a 6-0 run to take their first lead of the second half, 52-50, with 13:49 left in the game. Layups from Alieu Ceesay and DJ Fowler and a pair of free throws from Nathan Walker accounted for the Muskie points.

Jayden Bradshaw drained a 3-pointer to give Marietta a 61-58 lead with 8:43 on the clock. But Muskingum answered with a triple from Croff and a jumper from Duane Davis to retake the lead. Landry Palata converted a pair of free throws to tie the game at 63-63, with just over six minutes remaining.

Muskingum took control of the game with a 9-2 run over the next two minutes. Duane Davis scored eight straight points for the Muskies building a seven-point lead, 72-65. Davis led all scorers with 24 points to go along with six rebounds.

Danny Flood gave the Pioneers a chance when he scored five straight points to pull Marietta within one, 76-75, with 33 seconds left on the clock. Flood hit a pair of free throws and then recorded an old-fashioned three-point play to make it a one-point game.

Forced to foul down the stretch, Muskingum made six of eight free throws to secure the victory.

Bradshaw and Flood led the Pioneers with 15 points each. Palata finished with 10 points, while Jack Main had nine points and 11 rebounds. Darius Carden added nine points and seven rebounds.

In addition to Davis, Nathan Walker had 16 points, while Luken Hill and Croff chipped in with 11 and 10 points, respectively.

Marietta plays at Baldwin Wallace on Saturday at 3 p.m.