Wittenberg Stuns 13th Ranked DePauw

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - The Wittenberg University Tigers had been up-and-down through the first few weeks of the 2002-03 women's basketball season. The highest peak yet was climbed on Saturday when the Tigers upended the 13th-ranked DePauw University Tigers at the HPER Center by a final score of 69-64.

Wittenberg led most of the game against the fast-paced DePauw Tigers, who were in the NCAA Division III Final Four a year ago and came in sporting a 5-1 record. Through a frenetic first half of basketball, DePauw continually picked up easy baskets on the interior while Wittenberg was riding the hot hand of senior guard Stephanie Campbell (South Charleston, Ohio/Southeastern), who had 17 points.

While Wittenberg's lead grew to as much as seven points late in the first half, the two teams went into the locker room at halftime tied at 35. The second half was an entertaining back-and-forth affair, again pitting the inside dominance of the DePauw Tigers against the perimeter oriented Wittenberg Tigers, champions of the North Coast Athletic Conference a year ago. There were five ties in the second half, the final one coming with 1:32 remaining on a layup by Campbell.

Wittenberg scored the last nine points of the game, including five straight in that final 1:32 to account for the decisive margin of victory. After DePauw committed a turnover, Campbell missed a three-pointer but junior point guard Christina Fischer (Norwood, Ohio/Cincinnati St. Ursula) was in the right place at the right time, picking up the rebound on the weak side and dropping in a layup as she was fouled. She converted the three-point play and then played suffocating defense on the ensuing DePauw possession, forcing another turnover. Campbell iced the game with two free throws with 14 seconds left. She was 10-of-11 for the game.

Campbell finished with 29 points on 8-of-14 shooting from the floor, including 3-of-6 from three-point range, and the aforementioned free throws. Senior guard Kate Rolf (Ft. Wayne, Ind./Carroll) added 15 points and Fischer chipped in with nine points, two rebounds, two assists and, most importantly, no turnovers in 35 minutes of play.