(WILMINGTON, Ohio) - Altstaetter's historic performance leads Wilmington past Muskingum 86-76.
The Quakers and Muskies played a tremendous first half offensively. Wilmington opened with a 5-0 start with Stephanie Altstaetter scoring a layup and Jazz Johnson following up with a three-pointer. Altstaetter scored four more points, but the Muskies clawed back nailing back-to-back threes to cut the deficit to one. Ashton Harris hit two free throws and then sank a three-pointer to put Wilmington ahead 14-10.
Sierra McCoin drilled a three-pointer, and Olivia Trusty converted a layup to put the Quakers ahead 21-14 with two minutes left in the first quarter. Muskingum answered with a three until Altstaetter responded with a layup, a block on defense, and then converted an and-one opportunity to give the Quakers a 26-19 lead heading into the second quarter.
Altstaetter opened the second quarter by making two free throws. The Muskies hit another three, cutting the deficit to one again. A layup by Harris then a steal and layup by Johnson extended Wilmington's lead. Muskingum tied the score with a layup before a Quaker turnover led to a three for the visitors, giving the Muskies a 35-32 lead. McCoin responded on the next possession with another three to tie the score at 35-35.
With two and a half minutes left, Katie Dryer made a layup, but Muskingum answered with a three-pointer. McCoin once again drained a three, but the Muskies responded with their own three. Once again, McCoin made her third consecutive three-pointer, until the visitors hit two free throws to take a 46-43 lead at halftime.
Wilmington erupted to open the second half on a 17-4 run. Altstaetter started the spree with a layup, then a steal from Gabby Russell who found Altstaetter again for another layup. Having the game of her life, Altstaetter blocked the Muskingum shot as Russell grabbed the rebound and found Harris downcourt to make the layup. Altstaetter then made two free throws, followed by Johnson making two free throws, and then Russell made a layup. Alstaetter capitalized the run with a three, followed by two more free throws for Russell, as the Quakers now led 60-50.
With four minutes left in the third quarter, the Muskies clawed back to cut the deficit to five points. Russell hit a late jumper, followed by another three from Johnson to put Wilmington back on top by ten points. Altstaetter closed the quarter making two shots, to put the Quakers ahead 73-60 going into the final quarter.
The Muskies opened the fourth quarter strong, working away at the deficit. Olivia Trusty hit a free throw with six minutes left to keep Wilmington ahead by nine. Muskingum hit a three, and the Quakers began to stall offensively. A layup by the visitors cut the deficit to four, until Altstaetter finally snapped a near-three-minute scoreless streak by making two free throws. Bailey Eddleman then hit a free throw, followed by two more from Altstaetter who got a steal and made two more free throws to give the Quakers some insurance. Johnson capped off a tremendous performance by Wilmington with a layup to give the green and white an 86-76 victory over Muskingum.
Notables
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Stephanie Altstaetter had a historic 37 point-13 rebound double-double, setting a career high in points (previous high was 21 points). Altstaetter's 37 points are the fifth most in Wilmington Women's Basketball Single-Game history, and the first player since the 2008-09 season. She had three assists, two forceful blocks, and one steal. The double-double was the sixth of her season.
What's Up Next
The Quakers hit the road for a three-game road stretch with their first stop at Baldwin Wallace University on Saturday, at 4:00 P.M.
