COLUMBUS – The Capital University women's basketball team showed its muscle and held serve on its home court Saturday, defeating Heidelberg 64-50 in an Ohio Athletic Conference affair at the Capital Center.

The Crusaders (14-7 overall, 9-5 OAC) out-rebounded the 'Berg 51-30, grabbing 21 offensive rebounds which resulted in 19 second-chance points. 

Capital, which warmed up in pink shirts as part of the OAC's Hoops for the Cure to fight breast cancer, also knocked down 23-of-32 from the free throw line and held Heidelberg (4-17, 1-13) to just 30.4 percent shooting from the field.

With the win, the Crusaders snapped a two-game losing streak and currently remain tied in third place in the league standings with Baldwin-Wallace and rival Otterbein.

Senior forward Shalena Hawkins (Cincinnati, Ohio; at right) led Capital with 17 points and a game-high 14 rebounds, while frontcourt mate Stacy Timmerman (New Bremen, Ohio) posted 17 points and five rebounds.

Junior Rebekah Will (Millbury, Ohio) added 12 points and five rebounds for the Crusaders, who didn't trail after the 14:21 mark of the first half.

Capital took an early 15-8 advantage just over eight minutes into the game after a free throw by sophomore Jamie Caton (Hilliard, Ohio). The Crusaders overcame 30.8 percent shooting in the period by recording eight offensive rebounds and knocking down 8-of-10 from the free throw line.

In the second half, Capital quickly extended its lead to 35-22 after a lay-up by Timmerman with 15:19 to play. The Crusaders led by no less than six the rest of the way, dominating the glass and not letting the 'Berg gain any sort of momentum.

Prior to the game, three former women's basketball players were inducted into the Capital Athletics Hall of Fame. Katie Mang Carter and Carmen Ellis Little, a pair of 1995 graduates who were key members of the 1994 and 1995 NCAA Division III Tournament championship teams, were among the four inductees. Kendra Meyer Hunter '01, a three-time All-American, was also among the honorees.

Capital visits Otterbein this Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. in Westerville. The Crusaders have four games remaining in the regular season before the OAC Tournament begins on Feb. 22.