Oilers Come Up Short Against Northwood
Findlay, Ohio- The University of Findlay women's basketball team welcomed the Northwood University Timberwolves to Croy Gymnasium for a Great Midwest weekend matchup, Saturday, Dec. 17. The 70-64 loss moves the Oilers to 4-7 on the season and 1-4 in conference play. Meanwhile, the Timberwolves improve to 5-7 and 3-3 in conference play.
Despite scoring the first basket of the game, the Oilers found themselves trailing as Northwood went on a 13-0 run to give themselves a 13-2 lead within five minutes of the first quarter. Findlay was not able to catch them in the next fifteen minutes as Northwood led 39-30 going into halftime.
Northwood took their largest lead at the six minute mark of the third quarter as they led the Oilers by 12 with a score of 48-36. However, Findlay wouldn't go away easily. They outscored the Timberwolves 17-13 in the third quarter to put themselves within five heading into the final quarter.
With eight minutes remaining on the clock, the Oilers were down by eight. Senior Lauren Hapgood, who was dominant beyond the arc today, added three to the board for the Oilers to keep them in the game and pull within five. Hapgood would then return down the floor again to nail another jumper to bring the Timberwolves lead to four. Making another play, Hapgood went down the floor and put away an open layup to bring the game within two with seven minutes remaining. The Oilers took their second lead of the game at the two minute mark after sophomore Janae Hoying knocked down a three to bring the score to 64-63.
The game would remain back-and-forth but the momentum always belonged to the visiting team. In fact, they would score seven consecutive points to end the contest and give Findlay their fourth conference loss of the season.
On the day, the Oilers connected on 24-of-64 (.375) from the floor including 8-of-22 (.364) from deep. Northwood connected on 22-of-63 (.349) from the field and 9-of-30 (.300) from three-point range. Most notably, the Oilers recorded 20 turnovers that turned into 25 points for the Timberwolves.
Leading the Oilers was senior Lauren Hapgood who was red-hot from three today. She was 6-of-12 from the floor and 5-of-10 from deep to amass a career-high 17 points for Findlay. Hapgood also led the team in assists, recording three.
Assisting Hapgood was junior Valerie Muhlenkamp who was 4-of-8 from the floor to finish with 12 points. She also led the team in rebounds, grabbing eight. Junior Kate Ellis also grabbed eight rebounds in the contest. Sophomore Janae Hoying chipped in with eight points and four boards.
The Timberwolves were led by Makenzie Todd who recorded 19 points.
The Oilers will be back in action Monday, Dec. 19 as they host Wayne State (Mich.) in Croy Gymnasium at 6pm.