Hope Takes Kiwanis-Wittenberg Tip-Off Classic Title Over Wittenberg

The Wittenberg University Tigers, in search of just their second Kiwanis-Wittenberg Classic title in the last five years, came up empty again despite a tremendous effort against one of the best teams in NCAA Division III. Hope College, winners of 32 straight regular season games dating back to the 2001-02 season, claimed the top prize in the 2003 event with a hard-fought 77-74 victory over the host Tigers.

Hope, which went 31-1 a year ago and won the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association regular season and tournament titles, broke out to a 10-1 lead to start the game and appeared to have the Tigers on their heels. But Wittenberg fought back gamely, tying the score on several occasions late in the half and heading into the locker room down just two points at 32-30. In the second half, Wittenberg took the lead just once, on a layup by Haley Warden at the 19:21 mark. But Hope answered as Julie Henderson converted a three-pointer just 13 second later to give the Flying Dutch the lead for good. Hope extended the lead to as much as nine points with 3:20 to go before Wittenberg put together one last charge, whittling the lead to one point with three seconds left on a driving layup by Amber Bishop. But Tournament MVP Bria Ebels canned two free throws to ice the game with one second left and Warden's desperation heave from midcourt fell just off the mark as the horn sounded.

The Tigers were led by Bishop's 30 points, a career-high scoring night for the senior guard. Geri Woessner and Carrie Jones each added 10 points. Warden finished with a typical all-around stat line for her, five points, six rebounds, two assists and four steals. Bishop and Warden were named to the all-tournament team.

The Flying Dutch got 17 points and 13 rebounds from Linda Ebels to lead the team in both categories. Adelynn Vilmann added 16 points and nine rebounds and Bria Ebels contributed 15 points, four rebounds and three assists. All three made the all-tournament team. Hope held a commanding 46-27 edge in rebounding, but Wittenberg harrassed the Flying Dutch in 25 turnovers, compared with the Tigers' 10.