TIFFIN -- With four in double figures, the Heidelberg University Women's Basketball team closed out 2024 with a resounding 70-53 victory over Kenyon College on Monday afternoon. Up two at halftime, the Student Princes surged forward in the second half en route to the win.
The win was the first at Heidelberg for Head Coach Erin Eaton.
"I am very, very proud of our players," said Eaton. "We have played hard for 40 minutes a game all season long. It was great for the girls to get rewarded with a win."
Senior Ashley Ballard smashed her career high in rebounds, finishing with 16 boards to go along with 10 points. Morgan Altenburger, also a senior, had 13 points, eight gritty rebounds, and tied her career high with three steals.
Senior Chloe Gilbert had a team high 15 points, going 4-for-9 from the floor and making seven free throws. Freshman Emily Valencia diced her way to a 10-point performance.
Kenyon got out to an early 5-0 lead, but Heidelberg settled into the contest after a timeout by Eaton. Closing the quarter on a 6-0 run, Heidelberg led, 13-12.
Late in the second quarter, Altenburger drove the baseline and skipped a pass into the corner for Jewel Persinger. The sophomore buried a 3-pointer, giving HU a five-point lead. Heidelberg held a 28-26 lead at halftime
Ballard had the first five points of the third quarter, providing a welcomed cushion on the scoreboard. Trailing by nine in the final three minutes of the third, the Owls tried to regain momentum with a 3-pointer by Grace Murphy. Undaunted, Heidelberg answered with a 3-pointer from Kami Whiteaker.
Up 45-37 after three, Heidelberg pulled away in the fourth. Emma Keto drilled a pair of 3-pointers, including an in-rhythm dagger with 89 seconds left which put her team up 13. Altenburger put an exclamation mark on Eaton's first win with an and-one lay-up with 52 seconds left.
The Student Princes whitewashed Kenyon on the glass, 48-26. The +22 mark on the boards was HU's best since finishing +24 in a 93-48 win over Manchester on Dec. 30, 2019 -- exactly five years ago.
Heidelberg returns to action on Saturday, Jan. 4, against Marietta for game one of a basketball doubleheader. That contest tips off at 1 p.m. in Seiberling Gymnasium.