The Capital University women's basketball team executed in the final minute on the road Wednesday night, scoring four unanswered points in the final 31 seconds to defeat Marietta 80-79 in an Ohio Athletic Conference showdown in Marietta, Ohio.
Senior Hilary Kuhns (Fairfield, Ohio) put the Crusaders ahead by one with a lay-up and four seconds left in the contest. After each team called timeout, Capital forced a turnover with two seconds left and held on to complete its first conference road win of the season.
"We are fortunate to get a win," Capital coach Dixie Jeffers said. "Free throws were a detriment to us, but it's a good road win. We'll take any road win we can get."
Sophomore Cookie Geroski (Fostoria, Ohio; at right) finished with 20 points, nine rebounds and three steals for Capital (9-5 overall, 4-3 OAC), which forced 18 turnovers while committing just nine miscues on the offensive end.
Senior Shalena Hawkins (Cincinnati, Ohio) posted her fourth double-double of the year with 10 points and a team-high 10 rebounds. Kuhns finished with 13 points and five assists, while sophomore Jamie Caton (Hilliard, Ohio) added 16 points and three steals off the bench.
Uncharacteristically, the Crusaders allowed the Pioneers (8-7, 3-5) to shoot a high percentage (53.6 percent) from the floor, but forced enough turnovers and executed at key times offensively to come away with a big victory.
Capital shot 43.1 percent from the floor and took advantage of 17 offensive rebounds with 16 second-chance points.
"We played a team tonight in Marietta that was lights out," Jeffers said. "We played decent defense and did a great job rebounding in the second half."
Marietta led 23-9 through the first eight minutes of play before Capital, sparked by six straight points from Caton and a 3-pointer by sophomore Courtney Dingess (Johnstown, Ohio), trailed by just five with 9:35 left in the first.
The Pioneers increased their advantage to nine, but the Crusaders responded with a 12-3 run, capped by one of Geroski's five 3-pointers in the game, to tie it at 37-37 entering the locker room.
"I give a lot of credit to Cookie Geroski for her outstanding 3-point shooting and taking over offensively for us," Jeffers said.
The second half featured seven ties and nine lead changes, but Marietta seemed to take control after a 3-pointer to take a 77-73 advantage with 47 seconds on the clock.
Geroski responded with another 3-pointer on the other end, but the Pioneers upped their lead to 79-76 with a pair of free throws on the ensuing possession.
Hawkins scored a lay-up to narrow the Capital deficit back to one with 23 seconds left. The Crusaders' two forced turnovers sandwiched a Marietta free throw miss on the front end of the bonus, rendering Kuhns' late basket the game-winner.
Capital resumes play this Saturday at home against Muskingum. Game time at the Capital Center is slated for 3 p.m.
Senior Hilary Kuhns (Fairfield, Ohio) put the Crusaders ahead by one with a lay-up and four seconds left in the contest. After each team called timeout, Capital forced a turnover with two seconds left and held on to complete its first conference road win of the season.
"We are fortunate to get a win," Capital coach Dixie Jeffers said. "Free throws were a detriment to us, but it's a good road win. We'll take any road win we can get."
Sophomore Cookie Geroski (Fostoria, Ohio; at right) finished with 20 points, nine rebounds and three steals for Capital (9-5 overall, 4-3 OAC), which forced 18 turnovers while committing just nine miscues on the offensive end.
Senior Shalena Hawkins (Cincinnati, Ohio) posted her fourth double-double of the year with 10 points and a team-high 10 rebounds. Kuhns finished with 13 points and five assists, while sophomore Jamie Caton (Hilliard, Ohio) added 16 points and three steals off the bench.
Uncharacteristically, the Crusaders allowed the Pioneers (8-7, 3-5) to shoot a high percentage (53.6 percent) from the floor, but forced enough turnovers and executed at key times offensively to come away with a big victory.
Capital shot 43.1 percent from the floor and took advantage of 17 offensive rebounds with 16 second-chance points.
"We played a team tonight in Marietta that was lights out," Jeffers said. "We played decent defense and did a great job rebounding in the second half."
Marietta led 23-9 through the first eight minutes of play before Capital, sparked by six straight points from Caton and a 3-pointer by sophomore Courtney Dingess (Johnstown, Ohio), trailed by just five with 9:35 left in the first.
The Pioneers increased their advantage to nine, but the Crusaders responded with a 12-3 run, capped by one of Geroski's five 3-pointers in the game, to tie it at 37-37 entering the locker room.
"I give a lot of credit to Cookie Geroski for her outstanding 3-point shooting and taking over offensively for us," Jeffers said.
The second half featured seven ties and nine lead changes, but Marietta seemed to take control after a 3-pointer to take a 77-73 advantage with 47 seconds on the clock.
Geroski responded with another 3-pointer on the other end, but the Pioneers upped their lead to 79-76 with a pair of free throws on the ensuing possession.
Hawkins scored a lay-up to narrow the Capital deficit back to one with 23 seconds left. The Crusaders' two forced turnovers sandwiched a Marietta free throw miss on the front end of the bonus, rendering Kuhns' late basket the game-winner.
Capital resumes play this Saturday at home against Muskingum. Game time at the Capital Center is slated for 3 p.m.
