The Hiram College women’s basketball team was defeated by Denison University, 64-53, today (Saturday, Feb. 18) in the North Coast Athletic Conference and regular-season finale in Granville. [Game Stats]
With the loss, the Terriers finish the regular season with a 9-16 overall record and 5-11 in the NCAC. The Big Red improve to 18-7 overall and 11-5 NCAC.
Hiram led, 8-6, early in the first half thanks to a layup by senior guard Tiffany Shields (Bedford Heights/Bedford) at the 14:04 mark. Denison then made its move with an ensuing 9-2 scoring run to take the lead at 15-10 and never trailed again. The Terriers pulled to within three points, 23-20, with 4:07 left to play on a three-point play by sophomore guard Danielle Day (Newbury). But the Big Red ended the half with a 10-1 run to extend the margin to 33-21 at halftime.
Denison maintained its double-figure lead the rest of the way and led by as many as 19 points on numerous occassions in the second half with the last one coming at the 6:51 mark with the score of 53-34. The Big Red would go on to win by the final of 64-53.
Hiram shot better from the field than Denison shooting 42.9 percent overall (21-of-49) and 26.7 percent (four-of-15) from three-point range. Denison shot 30.1 percent (22-of-73) for the game and 10.0 percent (two-of-20) from behind the arc. The Big Red attempted 21 free-throws, converting 18 of those attempts for 85.7 percent. Denison also out-rebounded Hiram, 52-31.
The Big Red only had two players score in double figures in Serafina Nuzzo and Jane Windler who both scored 12 points. Lydia Harlan recorded a game-high 12 rebounds.
The Terriers had one player score in double-digits in Shields who scored a game-high 23 points on 10-of-17 shooting (58.8 percent). Senior All-NCAC guard Kelsey Durichko (Brunswick) chipped in with a game-high six assists.
Hiram will be the sixth seed in this season’s NCAC Tournament via tiebreaker against Ohio Wesleyan University. The Terriers will travel to Gambier to take on third-seeded Kenyon College on Tuesday, Feb. 21. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
