By: Athletic Communications Student Assistant Paige Phillips '23

BEREA, Ohio – The No. 7 nationally ranked Baldwin Wallace University women's basketball team defeated Capital University in an Ohio Athletic Conference matchup by a final score of 65-50 in the Ursprung Gymnasium inside the Lou Higgins Center. 

BW (14-1, 7-1 OAC) was led by sophomore forward Bella Vaillant (Perrysburg) as she recorded 11 points and eight rebounds. Junior guard Carolyn Wochele (Mentor) added eight points, three rebounds, and one assist. 

Capital (10-5, 4-4 OAC) was led by Bri O'Connor who totaled 21 points and six rebounds. Maddie Weiland added seven points and three rebounds.

First Half (BW 24-18)

• The Yellow Jackets grabbed their first lead of the game when Wochele made a three-pointer at the 6:30 mark.
• BW held that lead until the end of the 10-minute period and went into the second quarter leading 9-6.
• The second quarter featured a lot of back-and-forth play as Capital worked to keep a limit on the Yellow Jackets lead.
• BW grabbed its largest lead of the half after two free throws from freshman guard Leah Riley (Cincinnati/Sycamore) put them up 16-22 at the 3:42 mark.
• Junior forward Kira Philpot (Stow/Stow-Munroe Falls) closed the first half with two successful free throws, sending the Yellow Jackets into half time up 24-18.

Second Half (BW 65-50)

• The Yellow Jackets came out fast in the third quarter, going on a 7-0 run, with a layup from sophomore guard Emily Irwin (Pickerington/Pataskala Watkins Memorial) pushing the Yellow Jacket lead into the double-digits.
• A three from senior All-OAC and Academic All-OAC guard Megan Hensel (Upper Sandusky) extended BW's lead to 34-20 at the 6:55 mark.
• A 7-0 run from the Yellow Jackets gave them a 20-point lead but was ended just before the third quarter finished by a layup from Dougoud for Capital.
• The fourth quarter featured a lot of back-and-forth action as Capital worked to cut away at BW's lead.
• Capital finished the game on an 8-2 run, however the Yellow Jackets walked away with the victory at a final score of 65-50. 

The Yellow Jackets return to action on Wednesday, January 18 when they host crosstown rival John Carroll University for an OAC contest. Tip-off is at 7:00 p.m. in the Ursprung Gymnasium inside the Lou Higgins Center.