Men's and women's basketball both riding conference-best win streaks heading into NCAC tournaments

Mark Borland

Kevin Longley

Men's Basketball (21-2, 15-1 NCAC)

Wittenberg used a stunning second half to defeat No. 1 ranked Wooster, 94-80, Saturday night. The win extended the Tigers' winning streak to 13 straight games and clinched their first North Coast Athletic Conference regular season championship since 1997 and No. 1 seed in the conference tournament, which starts Tuesday, Feb. 20.

For Wooster, ranked No. 1 in the country by d3hoops.com, the loss snapped a 44-game homecourt streak, the longest active streak in NCAA basketball. The Scots were also denied what would have been a record fourth consecutive outright NCAC title.

Wittenberg fell behind early 16-8, but rallied to take the lead briefly before Wooster went on a 9-2 run to take a 44-38 lead with 259 left in the first half. The Tigers came back with an 8-0 run to end the half and take a 46-44 lead into intermission.

The second half was a veritable Red Swarm as the Tigers opened the second half with a 16-5 run and allowed the Scots to only get as close as nine twice after that. Wittenberg, which hasn't been outrebounded all season and leads the nation in rebound margin at more than 14 per game, crushed Wooster on the boards, 58-25 for the game and 23-9 in the second half.

The heroes in the game were almost too many to count for Wittenberg. Sophomore forward Kevin Longley (Vandalia, Ohio/Butler) had 18 points and 17 rebounds, including 11 in the second half. Senior center Chris Fillmore (Barberton, Ohio/Barberton) scored 18 points, including the Tigers first eight points of the game. Senior forward Ryan Taylor (Waynesfield, Ohio/Goshen) added 17 points, including 14 in the second half. The Tigers ninth all-time leading scorer, Taylor has scored 41 points in two games against the Scots.

Freshman point guard Mark Borland (Kettering, Ohio/Alter) had another outstanding game against Wooster. After scoring a season high 21 points against the Scots on Jan. 20 in Springfield, Borland responded with 17 points, five assists and just three turnovers in 27 minutes on Saturday. He also did an oustanding defensive job on Wooster's leading scorer Antwyan Reynolds. Reynolds had 13 points, just 3.5 under his average, but shot just five-of-19 from the field and two-of-10 from three-point range. Junior backup center Brian Gratsch (Maderia, Ohio/Maderia) played probably his best game of the season. He played 14 minutes and was three-of-three from the field and four rebounds.

Wittenberg has won six NCAC regular season championships, four outright (1994-96-97-2000) and two shared (1992-93) and will be the No. 1 seed in the NCAC tournament. The Tigers also clinched their first 20 win season since 1997 and their first in a regular season since 1996.

The Tigers will host No. 8 seed Oberlin (7-17, 4-12) in the NCAC quarterfinals at 7:45 p.m. Tuesday at the HPER Center. If Wittenberg wins it would host the semifinals (Friday) and championship game (Saturday) of the tournament. A win on Tuesday would match the Tigers against Ohio Wesleyan (No. 4 seed) or Wabash (No. 5).

Wittenberg has an all-time record of 21-8 in the NCAC tournament, has won three championships (1990-91-96) and has been runner-up four times (1992-94-95-97).

Next NCAC Quarterfinals vs. Oberlin (2/20)

Meghan Gaydos

Tiffany Keller

Women's Basketball (17-7, 11-5 NCAC)

Coach Pam Smith (15th season)

Wittenberg struggled for a half before recovering for an 84-70 win over visiting Wooster in the regular season finale on Saturday. The Tigers, who have won five straight games, finished in a tie for third with Earlham, but was seeded No. 4 in the NCAC Tournament based on tiebreaker criteria. In 12 seasons in the NCAC, Wittenberg has never finished worse than a tie for third in a regular season.

The Tigers will host No. 5 seed Denison in the quarterfinals of the NCAC Tournament at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at the HPER Center. A win will send Wittenberg into Friday's semifinals against the Ohio Wesleyan-Wooster winner. The semifinals and finals will be played on the home court of the highest remaining seed, most likely No. 1 Ohio Wesleyan.

Wittenberg got off to a slow start against Wooster and trailed 32-22 with 5:44 left in the first half before rallying to within 39-36 at halftime. The Tigers tied the game at 43 early in the second half and took the lead for good at 51-49 on a layup by junior point guard Meghan Gaydos (Concord, Ohio/Mentor Lake Catholic) with 14:48 left. That started a 17-2 run that blew the game open.

A trio of sophomores that have carried the Tigers most of the season did so again Saturday. Guard Stephanie Campbell (South Charleston, Ohio/Southeastern) had 16 points, four assists, four rebounds and five steals. Forwards Tiffany Keller (Massillon, Ohio/Tuslaw) and Kate Rolf (Fort Wayne, Ind./Carroll) added 12 and 11 points, respectively. Senior center Jamie Brafford (Monroe, Ohio/Lakota) added 10 points for the Tigers.

Wittenberg will be facing Denison for the second time in a week, after defeating the Big Red, 77-66, at the HPER Center last Wednesday. Rolf scored a game and career high 25 points, Campbell added 14 and Brafford 10 points.

Next NCAC Quarterfinals vs. Denison (2/20)

Men's and Women's Indoor Track and Field
Coach Steve Shutt (second season)

Wittenberg competed in the Scarlet and Grey Invitational at the Ohio State University on Saturday. While the winners were mostly at-large or Division I participants, the Tigers still posted some impressive finishes.

For the women, sophomore Abi Gerstle (Kettering, Ohio/Fairmont) was fourth in the mile (5:17.14) and sixth in the 800 (2:23.01). Freshman Kelly Zilli (Dayton, Ohio/Kettering Alter) was sixth in the mile (5:24.74) and eighth in the 800 (2:24.18).

Zilli and senior Amy Sonnanstine (Plymouth, Michigan/Canton) finished eighth and 10th respectively in the pole vault, but in the process tied the school record at 9-0 1/4.

For the men, senior Joel Drake (Springfield, Ohio/Shawnee) was 11th in the 35-pound weight throw, but set a Wittenberg record with a throw of 44-feet, eight inches.

Next DePauw Invitational (Feb. 23)

Basketball Ticket Information

Men's & Women's Quarterfinals at Wittenberg on Tuesday will be at 5:30 p.m. (women) and 7:45 p.m. (men). Ticket window opens at 4 p.m., with one ticket purchase allowing general admission to both games. Adult tickets are $4, while students, faculty and staff with ID at $1. Children are $1 and there are no complimentary tickets. NCAC passes will be honored.

Following Tuesday's men's game - providing Wittenberg wins - tickets will be sold for Friday's games. In addition, there will be a pre-sale for Friday games only on Thursday from 5-6:30 p.m. in the lobby of the HPER Center. Tickets for Friday's women's game - again providing the Tigers win on Tuesday to advance to play at Ohio Wesleyan - should be purchased at the door on game day. The Tigers would play at 8:15 p.m.

On Friday, Wittenberg's ticket window opens at 4:30 p.m. One ticket is good for both games, with Wittenberg slated to play at 8:15 p.m. All seating is general admission with the following prices adults are $7, students, faculty and staff with IDs are $2 and children will be $2. Following each of Friday's game, tickets will be sold for Saturday's championship game.

On Saturday, game time is 7 p.m. and the ticket window for general admission seating will open at 5:30 p.m. Ticket prices will be $8, students, faculty and staff will be $3 and children will be $3. No comps will be honored, but NCAC passes will.

Upcoming Tiger Sports Action
For the week of Feb. 18-24

Tuesday, Feb. 20
Women's Basketball vs. Denison, 5:30 p.m.
Men's Basketball vs. Oberlin, 7:45 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 23
Men's Basketball vs. TBA at HPER Center*
Women's Basketball vs. TBA at Ohio Wesleyan*
Men's & Women's Track & Field at DePauw Invitational

Saturday, Feb. 24
Men's Basketball vs. TBA at HPER Center*
Women's Basketball vs. TBA at Ohio Wesleyan*

* Games will be played only if Wittenberg teams advance in NCAC tournaments.