CINCINNATI, Ohio – A college women's basketball game between a pair of local rivals Saturday lived up to its "rival" billing, even if it was 90 minutes south of the Columbus area.
In physical, grind-it-out style, the Capital University women's basketball team remained unbeaten in the 2011-12 season with a 56-38 victory over its neighbor to the north, Ohio Wesleyan, in the championship game of the two-day College of Mount St. Joseph Tip-Off Classic.
"To be 2-0 right now while we're still trying to figure things out, I'm very proud of our effort," Capital coach Dixie Jeffers said. "After an intense game against Hope on Friday, we responded well against a very physical Ohio Wesleyan team."
Senior captain Shalena Hawkins (Cincinnati, Ohio), who led all scorers in the championship game with 14 points to go along with a game-high four steals, was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player. Sophomore guard Cookie Geroski (Fostoria, Ohio), who scored a team-best 18 against No. 19 Hope on Friday, was also selected to the All-Tournament team.
"I'm a little unsatisfied because we didn't come out and play as well as we did yesterday, but I'm happy we won and that we won two games this weekend," Hawkins said.
Senior captain Hilary Kuhns (Fairfield, Ohio) was also instrumental in both wins over the weekend, posting 10 points and team highs of nine rebounds and four blocks in the title game for Capital (2-0 overall).
The Crusaders shot 23-of-44 (52.3 percent) from the field and forced 24 turnovers, capitalizing with 32 points off the Bishops' miscues. Capital also posted 22 points in the paint and held Ohio Wesleyan to eight.
"At this time of the year, our defense has to create good things," Jeffers said. "I'm elated with our defense. When we add more schemes, it can only get better."
The Crusaders shot 51.9 percent in the first half, entering the locker room with a layup at the buzzer by junior forward Stacy Timmerman (New Bremen, Ohio), who totaled eight of her 11 points in the period. Capital had started the game on an 8-0 run before Ohio Wesleyan (2-1) called a timeout and eventually worked its way back into the game.
"Our starting five played well together, and our kids off the bench are showing signs of being able to help us out somewhere down the line," Jeffers said.
Tired from two straight days of play, the two teams competed valiantly in the second half, but the Crusaders never led by less than seven. Hawkins was instrumental in allowing Capital to hold on, scoring eight points in the period while playing a starring role defensively in the front court.
"They were physical, but we got better as the game went on," Hawkins said. "We gel well together … everyone has good skills and we all know our roles, but we're all friends off the court."
The Crusaders open their 2011-12 home schedule this Tuesday against non-conference rival Wittenberg. Tip-off at the Capital Center is set for 7:30 p.m.
