Muskingum Tops Women’s Basketball, 73-68

The Heidelberg College women's basketball team suffered a 73-68 Ohio Athletic Conference loss to host Muskingum College on Friday. The setback drops the Berg's overall record to 5-2 on the year and 1-3 in league action, while the Muskies improve to 3-6 overall and 1-2 in the OAC.

Muskingum scored first in the contest and never let the lead go the entire first half. The Muskies held a 10-point advantage, 27-17, with 7:57 to play in the opening half, but the Berg fought back and went on an 11-2 run to pull within one point, 29-28, following a Brittany Skolnicki (Lorain, Ohio / Clearview) layup with 4:04 to play before the break. Muskingum responded with a three-pointer to push its lead back to four, but back-to-back jumpers from Skolnicki and Jessica Jennette (LaRue, Ohio / Elgin) knotted the score at 32-32. Muskingum went on to score four more points on its last two possessions of the first half to hold a 36-32 lead at the intermission.

A Skolnicki three-pointer gave the Berg its first lead of the game, 43-42, at the 17:21 mark in the second half. Muskingum countered with a Tiffany Youel jumper on its next possession to retain control of the scoreboard. A Stacey Richard (Galloway, Ohio / Central Crossing) lay up tied the game for the fourth time with 12:18 to play. Hollie Knott (Concord, Ohio / Riverside) followed Richard’s lay up with one of her own to put the Berg on top once again. Heidelberg held the lead for 5:37 until Muskingum tied the game at 57-57. Muskingum went on to outscore the Berg 16-11 over the final 7:13 of the game to claim the OAC victory.

Kyle Davison (Ravenna, Ohio / Hudson) led three in double figures for Heidelberg with a season-high 16 points. Amanda Campbell (Pataskala, Ohio / Watkins Memorial) and Skolnicki followed Davison with 15 and 13 points, respectively. Campbell led the way on the glass with five rebounds and Sarah Kesse (Cincinnati, Ohio / Colerain) led the Berg defense with five steals.

For the game, Heidelberg shot just 40.6 percent (28-for-69) from the field compared to 53.5 percent (23-for-43) by the Muskies. Muskingum led the way on the glass, 38-28.

Heidelberg returns to action at Robert Morris-Springfield Tuesday, Dec. 19. Tip-off is slated for 7:00 p.m.