Box Score
Host Wilmington College used an opportunistic offfense, and accurate free throw shooting on Monday night, as they downed the Lions, 79-61, in non-conference action. The Mount, 1-9 overall this season, will return to HCAC play following the New Year when they play at Manchester College on Jan. 4. The Lions have a 1-2 conference record while the Spartans are 6-4, 3-0.
The Quakers raced out to a 17-10 lead 11 1/2 minutes into the first half, but saw the Lions cut the deficit to five points, twice, the last with 4:23 on the first half clock when Heidi McManus (Bethel, OH/Williamsburg) made a three-point shot to make the score, 22-17. Madie Long (Columbus, OH/Hilliard Davidson) nailed another three-pointer, with 2:43 to play in the opening half, to make the score Wilmington, 30-22, and neither team would add any points before intermission. Both teams shots in the 30 percent range in the opening half, as the Quakers seized the lead thanks to forcing 14 turnovers and connecting on 10-of-14 free throws.
Tara Dennis (Batavia, OH/Williamsburg) scored the first points of the second half, with 19:41 to play, to cut the Quakers' lead to 30-24, but Wilmington gradually pulled away again and led by a 34-24 margin with 19:22 on the clock. The Mount trailed by as many 17 points over the next few minutes, but pared down the Wilmington lead to 49-38 with 12:07 after a lay-up by Brooke Mosler (Maysville, KY/St. Patrick's). The Lions would get to within 10 points two more times during the game, the last at 10:22 to play (54-44), but would get no closer as Wilmington rebuilt its large lead, 64-47, over the next four minutes, thanks to accurate free throw shooting. The Quakers led by as many as 23 points, 76-53, with 3:03 to play.
The Lions out-shot Wilmington 40 percent to 29 percent from the field in the game, and out-rebounded the Quakers, 38-35, but committed 25 turnovers to Wilmington's 14 miscues. The Mount also conected on seven, three-point shots while Wilmington made four from long range. The Quakers were 33-of-41 from free throw line to the Lions' 16-of-23 from the charity stripe. McManus led the Mount with 17 points while Dennis and Long each chipped in nine points. Wilmington had three players score in double figures.
