BEXLEY, Ohio - Senior All-OAC guard/forward Hannah Fecht (Hilliard/Davidson) eclipsed 1,000 career points as the No. 12 nationally-ranked Baldwin Wallace University women's basketball team defeated Capital University by a final score of 60-52 in its Ohio Athletic Conference matchup at the Capital Center.
Needing 17 points prior to game time to reach the prestigious milestone, Fecht's two made free throws in the final minute of regulation gave her precisely that, as she now sits exactly on 1,000 points for her career. She becomes just the 15th player in program history to achive the accomplishment, and the first since Audrey Smolik back in the 2014-15 season. Fecht is now 90 points away from 10th place on the all-time scoring leaderboard.
With its ninth straight win over the conference foe, BW (21-2, 15-1 OAC) improved to 34-50 in its all-time series against Capital (12-11, 7-9 OAC). The Yellow Jackets also extended their road winning streak to three games, and its overall streak to seven consecutive victories. BW also retained sole possession of first place in the OAC standings, with just two games remaining in regular season play. Furthermore, following crosstown rival John Carroll University's defeat to Ohio Northern University in today's league action, the Yellow Jackets have clinched at least a share of the OAC regular season title.
The Yellow Jackets offense was led by three scorers in double-figures. Fecht scored a game-high 17 points, to go along with four rebounds, one steal, and one block. Senior All-OAC and Academic All-OAC guard Riley Schill (Sheffield Village/Elyria Catholic) poured in 11 points and game-highs of three assists and two steals. Sophomore Megan Hensel (Upper Sandusky) was the most impactful player off the bench, contributing with 10 points, three boards, and one steal in the victory.
The Crusaders attack was spearheaded by senior forward Cassidy Bosch and sophomore guard Emma Burns. Bosch garnered a double-double with 11 points and a game-high 11 rebounds. Meanwhile, Burns accumulated a team-high 12 points, including seven boards, and one steal in the defeat.
BW began the game by scoring on its first two offensive possessions, as Fecht drained a three-pointer and then senior guard/forward Kara Marshall (Copley/Akron Archbishop Hoban) sank a layup following a steal on the other end of the court. In response, Capital played a terrific remainder of the first quarter, embarking on a 15-3 run while shooting a sizzling 75 percent from the field. However, the Yellow Jackets' Marshall was able to score on a buzzer-beater driving layup to provide a needed shift in momentum before the period's end.
After surrendering the first basket of the second quarter, and failing to score in the first three minutes of the frame, BW proceeded to score the next nine points. The Yellow Jacket's swing was highlighted by a Schill and-one to augment the run to 13-3 overall. Hoping to step up its defense from the first period, BW played stellar, limiting the Crusaders to just 26.3 percent shooting in the second quarter. With an abundance of lead changes, the Yellow Jackets carried a one-point cushion headed to halftime.
The third quarter showcased some back-and-forth action in its preliminary stages, with both teams exchanging baskets until the 6:53 mark of the period. At that point, BW was abale to generate a 12-3 run to create some valuable distance between the trailing Capital adversaries.
The Yellow Jackets' energy spilled into the final frame, as they benefitted from senior All-OAC and Academic All-OAC guard Kasey Hughes' (Springboro) made jump shot and a Fecht trey on consecutive possessions to begin the fourth. With BW's peak-lead at 11 points after the two field goals, the Crusaders began their ascent in mounting a comeback. Capital scored the following nine points, cutting the the Yellow Jackets' lead to two with just 2:39 remaining in regulation. BW's Schill crafted her way to two crucial baskets in the closing minutes to give her team a multiple-possession lead. In an attempt to not let the game get out of reach, the Crusaders began intentionally fouling to maximize its possessions. The first player to get fouled was Fecht, who hit both clutch free throws and her last two points of the afternoon, to surmount 1,000 points for her career. The Yellow Jackets were able to drain all six of their final attempts from the stripe to hold on to their lead, and secure the eight-point victory.
BW returns to the court for its final home game of the regular season, as it takes on the University of Mount Union for an OAC matchup in Ursprung Gymnasium at 7:00 p.m.
