CINCINNATI — The Marietta College women’s basketball team traveled to Mount St. Joseph University for a pre-Thanksgiving day battle and feasted on the Lions, claiming a 62-55 victory. With the win, the Pioneers improve to 3-4. The loss puts the Lions overall record to 2-3.

Both teams traded baskets over an evenly played first quarter, leading to five ties along the way. Kendall Sury answered the Lions first three shots with a layup and Kelsey Harlan scored a layup to tie it at eight. After MSJ nailed a three-pointer at the 3:25 mark, the Pioneers tied it again hitting a trio of free throws and both teams were deadlocked at 11 heading into the second quarter.

Marietta finally took their first lead early in the second quarter as TJ Carpenter scored from within the paint. Later in the period, Harlan hit from the perimeter to extend the lead to seven. The Lions were able to come back and cut into the lead a bit, but Harlan’s jumper with two minutes remaining in the half pushed the lead back to seven. Mount St. Joseph managed a lone free throw in the final seconds to put the score at 28-22, but the Pioneers led heading into intermission.

The Pioneers got some distance in the third quarter with a 9-2 run, capped off by a three pointer from Sophie Nelson. Marietta added baskets from Abby Garner and Amelia Uhrig and was in firm control of the contest, taking a 41-33 lead into the final quarter.

Marietta got a layup and a pair of free throws from Carpenter to open the fourth quarter and the Pioneers were seemingly on their way to victory. MSJ fought back with a 10-2 run, fueled by six points from Hailey Guingrich, to pull within four points.

The Lions then got a layup and bonus free throw from Jordan Patterson with less than a minute left to put the Pioneer lead at two points.

With time running out, the Lions were forced to foul to stop the clock and the Pioneers responded by hitting 5-of-6 from the line to close out the game and clinch a 62-55 victory.

The Pioneers were led by Carpenter with 19 points and seven rebounds. Harlan and Sury both finished with 14 points. Harlan also led with four assists and three steals.

Guingrich led the Lions with 16 points. Morgan Jenkins scored 10 points and led with 11 rebounds.

Marietta will return to the court next Wednesday evening as they will travel to Cast Western Reserve University for a non-conference matchup, with tip off scheduled for 7 p.m.

MEN’S BASKETBALL

SPRINGFIELD — Wittenberg outscored Marietta College 42-23 in the second half to come from behind and beat the Pioneers, 72-55, Wednesday afternoon.

The loss drops Marietta to 4-3 overall, while Wittenberg improves to 5-1.

Marietta and Wittenberg traded small leads throughout the first ten minutes. Elijah Harden scored four straight points on a bucket and two free throws giving Marietta its biggest lead of the game, 19-12. The Pioneers led by two, 32-20, at halftime.

The Tigers opened the second half with five straight points from Eddie Brown. After a layup from Jake Singleton cut the Wittenberg lead to one, 35-34, the Tigers went on a 11-2 run pushing the margin in double digits, 46-36, with 14:18 left on the clock.

Wittenberg gradually pulled away and a dunk from Brown midway through the half extended the Tiger lead to 19 points, 58-39. Wittenberg led by as many as 21 points in the final minutes of the game.

Harden led the Pioneers with 11 points. Singleton and Deuce Blake each finished with seven points and five rebounds, while Jai Guerra-Howard chipped in with six points.

Brown led all scorers with 17 points and grabbed six boards. Sam Miller finished with 14 points and seven rebounds. Tyler Galluch and Noah Frayer added 11 and 10 points, respectively,

Following Thanksgiving, Marietta opens Ohio Athletic Conference play at Baldwin Wallace next Wednesday. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.