COLUMBUS – The Capital University women's basketball team moved past a forgettable performance earlier in the week in a big way Saturday, trouncing John Carroll 71-39 in an Ohio Athletic Conference contest at the Capital Center.
Senior Shalena Hawkins (Cincinnati, Ohio) and sophomore Jamie Caton (Hilliard, Ohio) scored 16 points apiece to lead Capital, which held John Carroll (3-3 overall, 0-1 OAC) to 23.2 percent shooting from the field. The team also held JCU's two leading scorers, Emilee Ritchie and Melissa Spahar, to a combined 4-for-22 from the field.
The game also marked the third time the Crusaders have held an opponent under 40 points this season.
Three days after suffering a 49-30 defeat at Wilmington in their conference opener, the Crusaders (5-2, 1-1) came out on fire against the Blue Streaks, taking a 22-4 lead just over eight minutes into the contest.
"The Wilmington loss isn't out of our minds … we are still fueled by that loss," said senior Hilary Kuhns (at right), who finished with 11 points, four assists and a team-high eight rebounds. "We didn't want to lose back-to-back games, especially in conference play, because our goal is to finish first in the league."
The two teams went back and forth for the remainder of the half, with Capital taking a 35-15 advantage into the locker room after holding John Carroll scoreless for the last 4:42 of the period.
The Crusaders extended their lead in the second as Caton tallied 14 points in the half. Capital took a 69-29 advantage on a layup by junior Rebekah Will (Millbury, Ohio) with just over seven minutes left.
The Crusaders outscored the Blue Streaks 44-12 in the paint and held a 22-8 advantage in second-change points for the game.
"Our shooting wasn't where it needed to be over the last two games, and we were frustrated," Kuhns said. "We decided the only way to get out of our shooting slump was to keep shooting, but to attack the rim as well."
Hawkins, who scored 12 points in the first half, also finished with a team-best four steals. Sophomore Cookie Geroski (Fostoria, Ohio) totaled six points, six rebounds and four assists, while junior Stacy Timmerman (New Bremen, Ohio) added eight points and five rebounds.
All 13 players active for Capital saw at least four minutes of action in the contest.
The Crusaders return to the floor next Saturday at defending OAC champion Mount Union. Game time is slated for 3 p.m. in Alliance, Ohio.
Senior Shalena Hawkins (Cincinnati, Ohio) and sophomore Jamie Caton (Hilliard, Ohio) scored 16 points apiece to lead Capital, which held John Carroll (3-3 overall, 0-1 OAC) to 23.2 percent shooting from the field. The team also held JCU's two leading scorers, Emilee Ritchie and Melissa Spahar, to a combined 4-for-22 from the field.
The game also marked the third time the Crusaders have held an opponent under 40 points this season.
Three days after suffering a 49-30 defeat at Wilmington in their conference opener, the Crusaders (5-2, 1-1) came out on fire against the Blue Streaks, taking a 22-4 lead just over eight minutes into the contest.
"The Wilmington loss isn't out of our minds … we are still fueled by that loss," said senior Hilary Kuhns (at right), who finished with 11 points, four assists and a team-high eight rebounds. "We didn't want to lose back-to-back games, especially in conference play, because our goal is to finish first in the league."
The two teams went back and forth for the remainder of the half, with Capital taking a 35-15 advantage into the locker room after holding John Carroll scoreless for the last 4:42 of the period.
The Crusaders extended their lead in the second as Caton tallied 14 points in the half. Capital took a 69-29 advantage on a layup by junior Rebekah Will (Millbury, Ohio) with just over seven minutes left.
The Crusaders outscored the Blue Streaks 44-12 in the paint and held a 22-8 advantage in second-change points for the game.
"Our shooting wasn't where it needed to be over the last two games, and we were frustrated," Kuhns said. "We decided the only way to get out of our shooting slump was to keep shooting, but to attack the rim as well."
Hawkins, who scored 12 points in the first half, also finished with a team-best four steals. Sophomore Cookie Geroski (Fostoria, Ohio) totaled six points, six rebounds and four assists, while junior Stacy Timmerman (New Bremen, Ohio) added eight points and five rebounds.
All 13 players active for Capital saw at least four minutes of action in the contest.
The Crusaders return to the floor next Saturday at defending OAC champion Mount Union. Game time is slated for 3 p.m. in Alliance, Ohio.
