Oilers Win Roller Coaster Game in Overtime at Walsh
North Canton, Ohio – It has been an up-and-down season thus far for the University of Findlay women's basketball team and on Sunday, Jan. 10 in North Canton, that feel continued with an instant-classic against the Walsh Cavaliers. The Oilers came away with a 92-84 win in overtime to move to 5-4 on the year while the Cavs, chosen as the preseason favorites to win the league, fall to 4-3.
In the first half of action, the game lived up to its billing as the best game in the conference this week. The Oilers used a 10-0 run to start the second quarter and would lead by nine at the seven-minute mark in the period. Walsh then closed the half on a 16-3 run and took a 38-34 lead into halftime. But the Cavs were not done there.
Two minutes into the second half, Walsh extended that run, scoring the first eight points of the third quarter and building a 46-34 lead. The Cavaliers biggest lead came with just two and a half minutes left in the third quarter, a 61-44 advantage that looked insurmountable.
The Oilers would begin cutting into the Walsh lead and used a 14-3 run of their own to claw their way back, trailing by just six two minutes into the fourth quarter.
Still down six with three minutes left, Findlay went on a 6-0 run to tie the game at 72 and later took a 76-75 lead with 41 seconds to play. A layup by Walsh would regain the lead for the home team.
Junior Amber Schweiger was fouled with 13 seconds left, made her first attempt, but missed the second. Junior Sydney Kin made arguably her only mistake of the contest when she corralled the rebound and missed an uncontested layup. The Oilers defense stepped up on the final possession, forcing overtime.
The Cavs hit a three right out of the gate in OT, but from then on it was Findlay who controlled the period, outscoring Walsh 15-7 to secure the road victory, Findlay's first of the year.
The Oilers shot 42.5% from the floor in the game while holding the Cavs to 39.5%, their second consecutive game under the 40% mark. Neither team shot it well from deep as the Oilers hit just 1-of-9 and Walsh made just 7-of-32.
Findlay held a big advantage on the boards, winning the rebound battle 57-44. 21 of the Oilers' 57 rebounds were on the offensive glass.
The Oilers got another monumental performance from standout junior Sydney Kin who has now scored more than 20 points in five of her last six games. On Sunday, Kin poured in 31 points, tied for 13th-most in a single game in Oilers history and just two points shy of her career-high. The Carey, Ohio native also snagged a game-high 14 rebounds, eight of which were on the offensive glass.
Junior guard Amber Schweiger was second on the team with 19 points on 6-of-21 from the floor. She also had six rebounds, a team-high four assists, and one steal. Also scoring in double figures was junior Bridget Landin who chipped in 17 points on the strength of 9-of-10 from the charity stripe. She recorded a double-double as she grabbed 12 rebounds and also had three steals.
Off the bench, junior Paige Bellman scored 16 points on 70% shooting. She also grabbed 12 rebounds giving Findlay three players with double-doubles in the game.
Walsh's Mayci Sales led the Cavs with 25 points while Megan Ball scored 23, Abby Hickey scored 13 and Lexie Scarton had 12. Reigning G-MAC Player of the Year Quionche Carter was held to just four points on three shot attempts.
Findlay will stay on the road as their next game will be on Thursday, Jan. 14 when they head to take on the Tiffin Dragons. That game will tip off at 5:30 pm.