WHEELING, W.Va. (Jan. 16) – Led by a 22-point, 25-rebound performance by junior forward
Lilly Ritz (Cambridge, Ohio/Cambridge), the Cardinals rallied to earn a 79-70 win over Fairmont State Saturday afternoon inside the McDonough Center.
The win improves the Wheeling University women's basketball team to 3-1 overall. Meanwhile, the Falcons drop to 0-2 on the season.
Ritz finished the game 9-of-13 from the field and hauled in 10 of her 25 rebounds on the offensive glass. She also added four blocks and three steals to her final line.
Sophomore guard
Maura Castelluci (Bridgeville, Pa./South Fayette) finished with 17 points, while classmate
Emily Holzopfel (Rayland, Ohio/Buckeye Local) chipped in 13 in the win.
The Falcons jumped all over the Cardinals early in the game. Fairmont State opened up an 11-2 lead four minutes into the contest and eventually took a 23-15 lead into the first intermission.
The Cardinals managed to draw within one point, 35-34, following a layup by sophomore
Jacqui Hinesmon (Cincinnati, Ohio/Princeton) with two minutes until halftime. Fairmont State quickly rebuilt its lead to nine with eight-unanswered to take a 43-34 lead into the break.
The Falcons led 49-40 midway through the third quarter. The Cardinals managed to knot the score up with nine-straight points, before heading into the fourth quarter with the score tied at 53-53.
Wheeling took command in the final frame. The Cardinals held Fairmont State without a point for over five minutes and built a 71-59 lead with two minutes left in the game. Fairmont State managed to get back to within seven, but Wheeling knocked down 8-of-10 free throw attempts down the stretch to put the game away.
The Cardinals controlled the glass and out-rebounded the Falcons 51 to 32 on the night.
Ritz has recorded a double-double in each game this season and is averaging 21.3 points and 16.8 rebounds per game through four contests.
Fairmont State guard Sierra Kotchman was limited to 2-of-10 shooting from long range and finished with 16 points to lead the Falcons.
Wheeling will have a tough test on Wednesday, January 20 when they visit preseason-favorite Glenville State for a 5 p.m. tip inside the Waco Center.
