TIFFIN, Ohio—The Heidelberg University women’s basketball team will start a two-game road swing Wednesday, Feb. 1 when it takes on John Carroll University in an Ohio Athletic Conference game at the Tony DeCarlo Varsity Center in University Heights, Ohio. Tip-off is slated for 7:30 p.m.
Live stats for the contest will be available at http://www.sidearmstats.com/jcu/wbball/index.htm.
Heidelberg (4-15, 1-11 OAC) looks to snap a six-game losing streak following a 68-64 loss Saturday to Muskingum University. Sophomore guard Kathleen Phillips (Sandusky/St. Mary’s) poured in a game-high 21 points, junior guard Jordan Ickes (Wooster/Triway) added 10 points and senior guard Jazmine Shaw (Columbus/Hamilton Township) recorded eight tallies and 11 rebounds, but the Berg could not overcome a late Muskingum surge.
Fourth-year head coach Marcie Alberts will likely run a five-guard set with sophomores Megan Miller (Tiffin/Columbian) and Emily Giel (Burton/Burkshire), Shaw, Ickes and Phillips. Phillips scores an OAC-best 17.6 points per game and pulls down 3.4 rpg., is third in the conference with an 83.0 (83-of-100) free throw percentage and is seventh with 40 steals. Miller averages 8.2 ppg. and leads the team with 4.7 rpg. Giel scores 6.5 ppg., leads the team with 31 assists, is fourth in the league with 34 three-pointers and ninth with a 35.1 (34-of-97) three point shooting percentage. Ickes scores 6.5 ppg. and is second on the team with both 27 assists and a 38.0 (49-of-129) shooting percentage. Shaw averages 2.6 ppg. and 3.0 rpg.
The Berg scores 60.3 ppg., shoots 34.3 percent from the field and grabs 36.6 rpg.
JCU (6-12, 3-9 OAC) comes to Tiffin following a 63-46 setback Saturday at Ohio Northern University, its fourth consecutive loss. Melissa Spahar, who has led the Blue Streaks in scoring and rebounding in three straight games, poured in a game-high 20 markers on seven-of-15 shooting to lead JCU.
Kristie Maravalli, in her 13th season at JCU, expects to start Allison Lustig, Emily Day and Beth Switzler in the backcourt and Hilary Liwosz and Spahar on the blocks. Spahar averages 15.8 ppg. and 9.1 rpg., ranking third and first in the OAC, respectively, shoots 43.9 (116-of-264) percent from the field and has totaled 39 steals. Liwosz scores 9.1 ppg. and shoots a team-high 70.1 (47-of-67) from the charity stripe. Lustig tallies 8.0 ppg., is seventh in the OAC with a 32.9 (23-of-70) three point percentage and leads the circuit with 90 assists. Switzler chips in 6.5 ppg. and 4.5 rpg. and shoots 41.6 (42-of-101) percent overall. Day averages 4.3 ppg. and 2.7 rpg.
The Blue Streaks score 59.2 ppg., shoot 37.4 percent from the field and grab 34.0 rpg.
JCU has won three straight games in the series and eight out of the last 10, including a 64-58 triumph in the last game between the two teams on Dec. 20, 2011 in Tiffin. In that game, Phillips scored 17 points and was one of four players to record five rebounds for the Berg. Hilary Liwosz tallied a game-high 20 points and Emilee Ritchie added 17, while Spahar pulled down a game-high 16 rebounds for the Blue Streaks.
Following Wednesday's game, the Berg will travel to Bexley, Ohio for a men's and women's OAC doubleheader at Capital University on Saturday, Feb. 4.
John Carroll (6-12, 3-9 OAC)
Name—GP-GS—Key Stats
Allison Lustig—18-18—8.0 ppg., 39.2 FG%, 32.9 3FG%, 90 ast.
Emily Day—18-18—4.3 ppg., 2.7 rpg.
Beth Switzler—18-7—6.5 ppg., 4.5 rpg., 41.6 FG%
Melissa Spahar—18-18—15.8 ppg., 9.1 rpg., 43.9 FG%, 39 stl.
Hilary Liwosx—14-13—9.1 ppg., 70.1 FT%
Heidelberg (4-15, 1-11 OAC)
Name—GP-GS—Key Stats
Jordan Ickes—19-19—6.5 ppg., 38.0 FG%, 27 ast.
Emily Giel—19-19—7.5 ppg., 35.1 3FG, 31 ast.
Kathleen Phillips—18-17—17.6 ppg., 3.4 rpg., 83.0 FT%, 40 stl.
Jazmine Shaw—19-9—2.6 ppg., 3.0 rpg.
Megan Miller—19-19—8.2 ppg., 4.7 rpg.