Quakers tangle with Ohio Wesleyan on the road

For Immediate Release:
Jan. 14, 2006

DELAWARE, Ohio — Long range shooting proved to be the difference Saturday afternoon as the Earlham College women’s basketball team faced Ohio Wesleyan University.

The Bishops defeated the Quakers 79-59 at Branch Rickey Arena in a North Coast Athletic Conference contest. “Our game plan was to take away the 3-pointer and we didn’t do that,” Earlham head coach Liana Coutts said. “Our biggest thing right now is understanding momentum and executing our game plan.”

For the game, Ohio Wesleyan had 15 of its 27 baskets from behind the 3-point arch. “They played a great game and you have to give them credit,” Coutts said.

First-year LeShea Orr (Dayton, OH/Jefferson) led the Quakers with 12 points, while sophomore Whitney McBurrows (Lansing, MI/J. W. Sexton) added 11 points. Sophomore Chelsea Caywood (Richmond, IN/Richmond) tossed in 10 points.

First-year Tasha Merrill (Cedar Grove, IN/Franklin County) led the Quakers in rebounding with eight. She also scored eight points.

Ohio Wesleyan (8-7, 4-2) scored the first seven points of the contest. Earlham responded as the Quakers closed the gap to 11-9 when sophomore Samantha Lurie (Lansing, MI/J. W. Sexton) made a basket and followed with a free throw to complete the 3-point play with 13:06 remaining in the opening half. Lurie finished with nine points.

The Bishops eventually led 41-31 at intermission. In the second half, Ohio Wesleyan widened its lead. The Quakers could only get as close as 52-41 with 12:24 left in the contest after a basket by Caywood.

Earlham (3-13, 2-5) is at Oberlin College next Saturday. The NCAC contest begins at 1 p.m.
Box score.