B-W Defeats Capital, 70-59, in Berea

BEREA, OHIO --Senior forward Holly Koepp (Lorain High School) scored a game-high 20 points and grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds today as Baldwin-Wallace College won its 21st straight home game as it defeated Ohio Athletic Conference rival Capital University, 70-59, at the Rudolph Ursprung Gymnasium in Berea.

With its win, B-W is now 20-3 overall and 13-3 in the OAC and has won three straight. With its loss, Capital fell to 8-13 overall and 7-9 in the OAC.

In addition to Koepp, junior guard Karissa Kusick (Chicora, Pa./Karns City H.S.) added 10 points, eight rebounds and six assists for the Yellow Jackets. Freshmen guards Caitlin Carr and Sara Heitkamp led Capital with 15 points each and senior center Michelle Budd had 10 points.

In the first half, B-W led by as many as 12 points on four separate occassions with the last one being at 36-24 at the 2:00 mark when Kusick scored on a layup. B-W also led at halftime, 36-25. In the second half, B-W extended its lead to as many as 26 points at 66-40 with 6:54 left in the game when sophomore guard Stephanne Musser (Miamisburg H.S.) canned a pair of foul shots.

For Koepp, her 20 points now gives her 1,062 in her career and ranks her seventh all-time. Her 11 rebounds give her 696 which is fifth all-time.

The Yellow Jackets will return to action on Wednesday, February 19 when they travel to University Heights to play OAC and Cleveland cross-town rival John Carroll University in the Tony DeCarlo Varsity Center at 7:30 p.m.

GAME NOTES # 23 vs. CAPITAL

The Yellow Jackets enter this game with a 19-3 overall and 12-3 OAC record following their 72-48 win against Ohio Northern University in Berea on Tuesday. It was B-W's second straight win overall and its 20th straight victory in the "friendly confines" of the Ursprung Gymnasium.

Capital enters this game with a 8-12 overall and 7-8 OAC record following its 67-66 win versus Mount Union on Wednesday night at the Capital Center in Bexley. The win marked the Crusaders fourth in their last six games.

The B-W vs. Capital All-Time Series -- This is the 44th meeting between Baldwin-Wallace College and Capital University in women's basketball. CU leads the all-time series record, 30-13, but B-W has won five straight games against Capital, including a 71-60 OAC win in Bexley on January 11, 2003. In addition, B-W has also won 13 of the last 15 meetings between the two schools, including OAC Tournament Championship games in 1999 and 2000.

Earlier This Year, On January 11, 2003 in Bexley: Baldwin-Wallace -- 71, ONU -- 60 -- The Yellow Jackets defeated Capital for the fifth straight time and 13th time in the last 15 meetings, 71-60, at the Capital Center in Bexley on Saturday, January 11. Senior two-time All-OAC forward Holly Koepp (Lorain Catholic) led the Yellow Jacket attack with a career-high 24 points and eight rebounds. She was joined in double figure scoring by senior All-OAC guards Natalie Winkelfoos (Bucyrus) and Sarah Gordon (Wooster Senior) with 13 and 10 points, respectively. Koepp canned eight of 10 shots from the floor, including one of one three-pointers, and seven of eight foul shots for her 24 points. As a team, B-W canned five of eight three-pointers. Senior backup center Heather Eckstein (Willard) led

B-W with 10 rebounds.

In B-W's Last Game-- On Tuesday, February 11, 2003 versus Ohio Norhtern in Berea, Ohio: Baldwin-Wallace -- 72, ONU-- 48 -- Senior guard Sarah Gordon tied a career-high with 27 points and set an Ohio Athletic Conference single-game record by making all 10 of her shots as B-W won its 20th straight home game as it defeated Ohio Northern, 72-48, at the Ursprung Gymnasium in Berea. Gordon made 10 of 10 shots from the floor, including five of five from three-point range, and both of her free throws enroute to her 27 points. She also had six rebounds, five assists, one steals and one blocked shots. The Yellow Jacket women have not lost a home game since December 17, 2001. With its win, B-W is now 19-3 overall and 12-3 in the OAC. With its loss, Ohio Northern fell to 6-16 overall and 2-13 in the OAC. In addition to Gordon for the Yellow Jackets, junior center Erika Schultz scored 10 points. Sophomore guard Kendra Bailey led Ohio Northern with 17 points and junior forward Alyssa Rickert added 11 points.. In the first half, B-W led by as many as 21 points at 34-13 at the 6:54 mark when Schultz scored on a layup. B-W also led at halftime, 38-19. In the second half, B-W extended its lead to as many as 31 points at 61-30 with 12:26 left in the game when sophomore guard Stephanne Musser scored on a layup.

The Yellow Jacket Statistical Leaders -- After 22 games B-W is led in scoring by Sarah Gordon at 11.9 points per game. She is also shooting 54.1 percent from the floor (98 of 181), 54.5 percent from three-point range (36 of 66) and 74.4 percent from the foul line (29 of 39). She is first with 36 treys and 24 blocked shots, fourth with 62 assists and is grabbing 3.5 rebounds per game. Holly Koepp is second in scoring at 11.5 ppg. and first with 7.8 rpg. She also has 35 assists, a team-leading 40 steals and shoots 79.6 percent from the foul line (43 of 54). Natalie Winkelfoos is third at 10.8 ppg. and second with 34 three-pointers She cans 52.9 percent of her field goals (90 of 170), a team-leading 54.8 percent from "three-point land" on 34 of 62 attempts,and is second with 65 assists and 39 steals. Karissa Kusick is fourth in scoring at 8.8 ppg., fifth with 3.0 rpg., third with 20 three-pointers and first with 84 assists. Erika Schultz is fifth in scoring at 7.7 ppg., second in rebounding with 5.0 rpg. and first in field goal shooting at 54.9 percent on 78 of 142 attempts. Stephanne Musser is sixth in scoring at 6.0 ppg. and fourth with 16 treys.

Scouting The Crusaders -- Look for Capital Head Coach Dixie Jeffers to start 5'7" senior guard Danielle Meyer, 5'6" freshman guard Sara Heitkamp, 5'8" freshman guard Caitlin Carr, 6'0" sophomore forward Ashley Curl and 6'0" freshman forward Jennifer Lilly. Off the bench, also look for 6'3" senior center Michelle Budd, 6'1" sophomore forward Shelley Simpson, 5'7" senior forward Kori Payne, 5'9" freshman forward Mara Boyer, 5'6" freshman guard Liz Krugh and 5'7" freshman guard Stephanie Wideman among others to see action.

In Capital's Last Game-- On February 12, 2003 versus Mt. Union in Bexley, Ohio: Capital - 67, Mount Union -- 66-- The Crusaders improved to 8-12 overall and 7-8 in the OAC with a 67-66 win against Mount Union College at the Capital Center in Bexley. The win was Capital's fourth in its last six games. Leading the way for the Crusaders was senior guard Danielle Meyer with a game-high 20 points, including canning 11 of 12 shots from the foul line. In addition, senior Michelle Budd had her best game of the year with 16 points and a game-high 10 rebounds, and freshman Sara Heitkamp had 12 points and made all five of her shots from the floor.

The Crusader Statistical Leaders -- After 22 games, CU is led in scoring by Meyer with 15.9 points per game, 26 three-pointers and 92 steals. Sara Heitkamp is second in scoring at 10.6 ppg. and is second with 22 treys and 56 steals. Jennifer Lilly scores 8.2 ppg. and is first with 5.5 rpg. Caitlin Carr is fourth in scoring at 8.1 ppg and fourth with 3.5 rpg. Michelle Budd is fifth at 6.1 ppg. and third with 5.0 rpg. Mara Boyer contributes 4.5 ppg., Emily Maier 3.8 ppg. and Ashley Curl 3.1 ppg.

Gordon's Records -- Sarah Gordon set an OAC-record by canning all 10 of her shots on Wednesday versus ONU. The mark broke the record previously held by former B-W All-American Anjee Beard, who was nine-of-nine in one game and eight-of-eight in another. Earlier this season, Gordon set an OAC-record by canning six-of-six three-pointers in a win versus Wilmington. She was five-of-five from "three-point land" on Wednesday.

1,000 Point Chase -- Senior guard Natalie Winkelfoos is quickly closing in on the 1,000 point club. She currently has 890 points. She needs 110 points to be the 11th woman to score 1,000 pints at B-W.

The Yellow Jacket Tradition of Excellence -- B-W is seeking a seventh straight 20-win season in 2002-2003. The Yellow Jackets have appeared in six of the last seven NCAA Division III National Tournaments. B-W has appeared in each of the last six OAC Championship Games. In both 1999-2000 and 2000-2001, B-W advanced to the "Elite" Eight of the Division III National Tournament.

Harrer is the Winningest All-Time Women's Coach -- Cheri Harrer is the winningest women's basketball coach in school history with 249 victories.

Academic Excellence -- The Yellow Jacket women’s basketball team had an outstanding Fall Semester in the classroom. Overall, 20 players combined for a 3.418 grade point average for Fall Semester. Leading the way were seniors Sarah Gordon and Holly Koepp and junior Erika Schultz with 4.0 G.P.A.s. Freshman Nikki Altenweg also had a 3.917 and junior Lindsay Meek (Port Clinton/ Huron) a 3.943. Overall, 17 of the 20 players were above a 3.1 G.P.A., and seven made the Dean’s List.