BEREA, OHIO -- Holly Koepp (Lorain Catholic High School) scored a game-high 13 points tonight as Baldwin-Wallace College defeated traditional and nonleague rival Wittenberg University, 64-57, in Berea in a first round NCAA Division III National Tournament game at the Rudolph Ursprung Gymnasium.
With its win, B-W is now 25-4 overall and extends its home winning streak to 24 straight games while snapping Wittenberg's 19 game winning streak. With its loss, Wittenberg, the North Coast Athletic Conference champion, ends its season at 24-5 overall. B-W's win versus Wittenberg was its second this season in Berea. The Yellow Jackets previously beat the Tigers, 79-53, on December 3.
In addition to Koepp, Karissa Kusick (Chicora, Pa./Karns City H.S.) had 12 points for the Yellow Jackets and Stephanne Musser (Miamisburg) added 10 off the bench for the Jackets. Wittenberg was led by Tiffany Keller with 12 points. Haley Warden and Stephanie Campbell added 10 each for the Tigers.
In the first half, B-W led by as many as seven points at 27-20 with 3:33 left before the intermission when Erika Schultz (Waterville/Anthony Wayne H.S.) hit a jumper off an assist by Sarah Gordon (Wooster H.S.). B-W also led at halftime, 33-26. In the second half, Wittenberg rallied to take the lead at 42-40 when Campbell made a layup. B-W took the lead for good at 53-51 on a pair of free throws by Koepp and then extended its lead to as many as nine points on their way to the 64-57 final.
B-W will return to action on Saturday, March 8th at 3 PM when it travels to the Fred Razik Arena in Wilmington to play the Wilmington Quakers in a second round NCAA Tournament game. This will be the second time the two teams have played within a week as Wilmington defeated B-W, 79-72 in overtime in the OAC Championship game last Saturday, March 1st.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, please contact the B-W Sports Information Director Kevin Ruple by telephone at (440) 826-6993 or 6994, by FAX at (440) 826-2329 or via e-mail at kruple@bw.edu. To contact Yellow Jacket Head Basketball Coach Cheri Harrer, please call her at (440) 826-3299, FAX her at (440) 826-2192 or e-mail him at charrer@bw.edu. In addition, the latest B-W women's basketball information can be obtained on our Internet Web Site at www.bw.edu/athletics.
GAME NOTES # 29 vs. WITTENBERG UNIVERSITY
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BALDWIN-WALLACE COLLEGE YELLOW JACKET women's basketball team will host North Coast Athletic Conference and traditional nonleague rival Wittenberg University in a first round NCAA Division III Tournament Game on Wednesday, March 5, in Berea, Ohio at the Rudolph Ursprung Gymnasium at 7:30 p.m. The winner then will travel to Wilmington, Ohio on Saturday to play Wilmington College in the second round (time is TBA).RADIO -- Baldwin-Wallace College campus station WBWC, 88.3 FM. will broadcast all home and away Yellow Jacket games. The pregame show from Berea will begin at 7:15 p.m. Seniors Jon Holko (Wadsworth, Ohio) and Ryan Edgar (Lancaster, Ohio) will call the play-by-play and do the color analysis, respectively.
| BALDWIN-WALLACE COLLEGE | WITTENBERG UNIVERSITY |
| LOCATION: Berea, Ohio | LOCATION: Springfield, Ohio |
| NICKNAME: Yellow Jackets | NICKNAME: Tigers |
| CONFERENCE: Ohio Athletic | CONFERENCE: North Coast Athletic |
| 2002-2003 RECORD: 24-4 | 2002-2003 RECORD: 24-4 |
| OAC RECORD: 15-3 | NCAC RECORD: 16-0 |
| LAST GAME: Lost to Wilmington, 79-72, in OT, in Berea on 3/1 | LAST GAME: Beat Ohio Wesleyan, 72-58, in Springfield on 3/1 |
| HEAD COACH: Cheri Harrer | HEAD COACH: Pam Smith |
| B-W RECORD: 254-103 | WU RECORD: 325-133 |
| YEAR AT B-W: 13th | YEAR AT WU: 16th |
| CAREER RECORD: same | CAREER RECORD: same |
| LAST MEETING: Dec. 3, 2002 in Berea | SERIES STREAK: B-W, one |
| SERIES BEGAN: 1985-86 | SERIES RECORD: Tied, 10-10 |
The Pregame Notes
-- The Baldwin-Wallace College Yellow Jacket women's basketball team will look to get back on the winning track in the first round of the NCAA Division III National Tournament when it hosts Wittenberg University at the Ursprung Gymnasium in Berea. This is the second time that the Yellow Jackets and Tigers have met this season.The Yellow Jackets enter this game with a 24-4 overall record following their 79-72 overtime loss last Saturday to Wilmington in the Ohio Athletic Conference Championship Game in Berea. That loss snapped a seven-game winning streak.
Wittenberg enters this game with a 19-game winning streak and also with a 24-4 overall slate. The Tigers were an unbeaten, 16-0, in the NCAC this year and also won the league championship tournament last weekend. Wittenberg defeated Ohio Wesleyan University in the championship game in Springfield, 72-58.
The Baldwin-Wallace vs. Wittenberg All-Time Series -- The Baldwin-Wallace and Wittenberg rivalry is one of the most storied in all of Division III athletics. This is the 21st meeting between the Yellow Jackets and Tigers in a series that began in 1985. The series is tied, 10-10. B-W won the last meeting between the two teams, 79-53, earlier this season on December 3 in Berea. A year ago in Springfield, the Tigers defeated the Yellow Jackets, 71-53.
Earlier This Year, On December 3, 2002 in Berea: Baldwin-Wallace -- 79, Wittenberg -- 53 -- The Yellow Jackets received 14 points each from 5'11" junior center Erika Schultz (Waterville/ Anthony Wayne), 5'10" senior guard Sarah Gordon (Wooster Senior) and 5'7" sophomore guard Stephanne Musser (Miamisburg) enroute to a 79-53 win versus Wittenberg at the Ursprung Gymnasium in Berea on December 3 of this season. Combined, Gordon (two) and Musser (three) had five three-pointers and B-W canned eight-of-14 for the game for 57.1 percent. Kate Rolf led Wittenberg with 18 points but had seven turnovers.
Scouting the Yellow Jackets -- Look for 6'0" senior three-time All-Ohio Athletic Conference forward Holly Koepp (Lorain Catholic), Erika Schultz, 5'5" senior two-time All-OAC guard Natalie Winkelfoos, 5'9" junior guard Karissa Kusick and Sarah Gordon to start. Off the bench, look for Stephanne Musser, 5'5" freshman Ashley Torrain (Pickerington) and 5'6" freshman Katie Kobelt (Tiffin Columbian) to see action in the backcourt. On the inside, look for 6'1" senior center Heather Eckstein (Willard) and 6'2" freshman center Lindsay Mamula (Clinton/ Massillon Jackson) to both see action.
In B-W's Last Game: Saturday, March 1 versus Wilmington: Wilmington -- 79, B-W -- 72 in O.T. -- The Yellow Jackets ended a seven-game winning streak when they lost in the Ohio Athletic Conference Championship Game to Wilmington College, 79-72 in overtime, at the Ursprung Gymnasium in Berea. Despite the loss, B-W was led by Holly Koepp with 18 points, Erika Schultz with 14 points and nine rebounds and Natalie Winkelfoos with 12 points, including three-of-three shooting from three-point range. A key in the loss was being outrebounded, 53-34.
The Yellow Jacket Statistical Leaders -After 28 games, B-W is led in scoring and rebounding by Holly Koepp at 12.3 points per game and 7.8 rebounds per game. She also shoots 51.3 percent from the floor and is second with 47 steals. Sarah Gordon is second in scoring at 12.1 ppg. and first with 34 blocked shots. She is also tied with Natalie Winkelfoos for the most three-pointers with 42. Gordon also shoots 53.1 percent from the field and 51.2 percent from "three-point land". Winkelfoos is third in scoring at 10.3 ppg., first with 50 steals, second with 83 assists and cans 55.4 percent of three-pointers. Erika Schultz is fourth in scoring at 9.3 ppg., second in rebounding with 5.4 rpg. and blocked shots with 19, first in field goal shooting at 56.8 percent. Karissa Kusick is fifth in scoring at 8.9 ppg., first with 120 assists and third with 23 three-pointers. Stephanne Musser comes off the bench and is sixth in scoring at 5.7 ppg. and fourth with 22 treys.
Scouting The Tigers: Wittenberg starts 5'5" junior Christina Fischer, 5'7" senior Stephanie Campbell and 5'7" senior Kate Rolf in the backcourt. In the post, the Tigers start 5'10" senior Tiffany Keller and 6'0" senior Rebecca Meers. Off the bench, look for 5'8" senior Meghan Bruggeman, 5'6" junior guard Amber Bishop, 5'7" junior guard Kari Kitchen, 5'7" sophomore guard Emilie Schmid and 5'6" junior forward Haley Warden all to see action.
In Wittenberg's Last Game-- On March 1, 2003 in the NCAC Championship Game versus Ohio Wesleyan in Springfield: Wittenberg -- 72, Ohio Wesleyan -- 58 -- The Tigers won their 19th straight game as they beat Ohio Wesleyan in the NCAC Championship Game last Saturday in Springfield. Leading the way for Wittenberg was Meghan Bruggeman with 15 points and six rebounds and Haley Warden with 10 points. Both players came off the bench
The Tiger Statistical Leaders -- After 28 games, Wittenberg is led in scoring by Kate Rolf with 11.6 ppg., 63 steals and 50 three-pointers. She also grabs 4.4 rpg. and has passed for 64 assists. Stephanie Campbell is second in scoring with 11.1 ppg. in 27 games. She is also first with 82 assists and second with 62 steals. Tiffany Keller is third in scoring at 9.0 ppg. in 25 games. She also shoots 53.5 percent from the floor. Meghan Bruggeman is fourth in scoring at 8.6 ppg. and shoots 51.7 percent from the floor. Amber Bishop is fifth in scoring at 8.3 ppg. Haley Warden is sixth in scoring at 6.7 ppg. and first with 5.3 rpg. Rebecca Meers is seventh in scoring at 6.0 ppg. and third with 4.3 rpg. She also shoots 52.8 percent from the floor.
B-W Women Make Seventh Trip in Eight Year -- The NCAA tourney berth is B-W's seventh in the last eight years. B-W's appearance in the OAC Championship Game was its seventh straight. In the last seven years, the Yellow Jacket women have a 171-29 record and an .855 winning percentage, including trips to the "Elite Eight" in 2000 and 2001.
Semantics Keep B-W's 23-Game Home Winning Streak Alive-- Semantics, sematics...... On Saturday, when Wilmington beat B-W, 79-72 in overtime, in the OAC Championship Game in Berea, it was the top seed and the home team for that game. So, technically, B-W, now 24-4 overall, will put its 23-game home winning streak on the line this week when they host a first round NCAA Division III Tournament game on Wednesday against Wittenberg. B-W's last home team loss was on December 17, 2001 to Wilmington College, 75-67.
The Difference -- After 28 games, the Yellow Jackets are outscoring the opposition by 14.9 points per game.
Koepp is Now Seventh in Scoring -- Holly Koepp has 1,133 career points to rank seventh all-time in scoring and needs 14 points to surpass current OAC Media Relations Director Julie Work to move into sixth place all-time. Koepp's 731 career rebounds are fifth all-time and seven shy of passing Debbie Crider (1982-87).
Harrer is the Winningest All-Time Women's Coach -- Cheri Harrer is the winningest women's basketball coach in school history with 254 victories and a 254-103 record.
Koepp and Schultz Named to the OAC Tournament all-tournament team -- Holly Koepp and Erika Schultz were named to the 2003 OAC Tournament all-tournament team. In three games, Koepp scored 50 points and grabbed 18 rebounds. Schultz, who had a career-high 26 points last Tuesday against John Carroll, scored 55 points and grabbed 30 rebounds.
Three Named All-OAC -- Sarah Gordon was tabbed as a first-team All-OAC selection and was named All-OAC for the second straight year. Holly Koepp was a second-team pick, made the honor squad for the third straight year, including being a first-team pick a year ago. Natalie Winkelfoos was named as an honorable mention All-OAC player for the second year in a row.
Two Named Verizon Academic All-District IV-- Senior Sarah Gordon (3.809 in psychology) and junior Karissa Kusick (3.806 in chemistry/ pre-pharmacy) have been named to the prestigious Verizon Academic All-District IV team. Gordon is a first-team pick and now advances to the national Academic All-America ballot. Kusick was a third-team selection.
Three Named Academic All-OAC -- Sarah Gordon, senior forward Holly Koepp and Karissa Kusick have been named to the Academic All-OAC squad. Gordon and Koepp (3.7 in early childhood education) are first-team picks and Kusick made the second-team.
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