Wittenberg Claims Ninth NCAC Title

Greencastle, IN- After upsetting the number one seeded DePauw in the NCAC Tournament, Wittenberg returned to action to take on Ohio Wesleyan in the championship game. The number four seeded Tigers fought a tight battle with OWU in an overtime match-up that ended with the Red & White claiming a 64-58 win and ninth NCAC Tournament title.

The Tigers were led by Taryn Cash, Delaney Williams, Abigail Yunker, Kristie Kalis, Jade Simpson on the court as Wittenberg's starting five. The starting line-up accumulated a total of 48 points, 30 rebounds, and an overall shooting percentage of 37.6%. As a team, Wittenberg was 41.7%in field goals, 21.1%in three points, and 58.8%from the line.

The Tigers and Battling Bishops went back and forth putting points on the board in the first half of the first quarter before OWU went on a run into the last two minutes of play. Starting the comeback for Wittenberg was Jaida Malone with a made layup, followed by Taryn Cash and Lauren Legate to head into the second quarter 10-10. The Tigers fell behind in the second quarter, being outscored 27-22 going into the half. Tiger points came from Semie Brar and Kristie Kalis with six points each, Delaney Williams contributed with three assists. Wittenberg was able to bounce back in the third quarter with 12 more points coming from Kalis (3), Jade Simpson (3), Semie Brar (2), Delaney Williams (2), and Abigail Yunker (2). Wittenberg split the fourth quarter with Ohio Wesleyan, each team putting up 15 points. The Tigers were led by Yunker with six points from the field, taking Wittenberg into an exciting overtime championship. OWU got on the board first in the overtime period but Delaney Williams quickly answered back. Williams went on to put five unanswered points up to take a 61-56 lead. Semie Brar and Kristie Kalis would be put on the line in the final 11 seconds to secure the 64-58 win.

Wittenberg Leaders- The Tigers had eight different individuals score, being led by Kristie Kalis with 18 points. Delaney Williams led the Red & White in assists with six on the night, and defensively Jade Simpson led the way with 13 rebounds.

2022 NCAC Women's Basketball All-Tournament Team
Mya Shannon, DePauw
Bryana Woodard, Oberlin
Molly Delaney, Ohio Wesleyan
Cierra Joiner, Ohio Wesleyan
Abigail Yunker, Wittenberg
Tournament MVP (Nan Nichols Award) - Kristie Kalis, Wittenberg

NCAC Leaders- Four Tigers continue to sit in the top ten in the NCAC for statistics. Kristie Kalis sits at number seven in the conference for points this season with 342 after to last night's match-up. Kalis also lands in the top ten at number eight for field goals made this season with 119.  Jade Simpson leads the Tigers at number seven in the NCAC for field goal percentage at 47%, going 103-219. Kalis continues to lead the way in three points made at number four with 54 shots being made while Yunker sits just outside at number 12 with 28. Yunker does come in tied at number five in the conference for three-point percentage with an average of 36.4%. Just behind in three-point percentage is Kalis at number 10 with a 31.8% average. Going 50-56, Kalis lands at number one for field throw percentage with an 89.3% success rate. On the ball control side, Jade Simpson lands at number two in the conference for rebounds with 228; 146 being defensive and 82 being offensive. Delaney Williams sits at number one for assists on the season with 110 and number five in steals with 48 on the season. Joining in on ball control is Kalis at number one for steals with 38 on the season. (For complete NCAC statistical leaders go to https://www.northcoast.org/sports/wbkb/2021-22/leaders)

Up Next- As tournament champions, the Tigers have earned the league's automatic bid into the NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Tournament, which will open with first and second round games next weekend at host sites.