'Berg Wins First Half, but Falls in OT to Cornell, 70-66

The Heidelberg College women’s basketball team could not overcome a strong second half shooting performance by Cornell College of Mt. Vernon, Iowa and dropped a 70-66 overtime contest. The setback snaps a three-game winning streak for the Berg, sitting the team at 5-5, while Cornell improved to 5-4. The loss was the first non-conference home defeat in 12 outings for Heidelberg.

Heidelberg held a 33-24 lead at the intermission, but the Rams shot 62.5 percent (15-fo-24) from the field in the second half to erase its seven point deficit and forced overtime. In the extra session, behind seven points from Tiffany Cowan, Cornell topped the scoreboard at the final buzzer. In overtime, Cornell outscored Heidelberg 9-5.

The game opened in a back and forth battle before Heidelberg’s Brittany Skolnicki (Lorain, Ohio / Clearview) hit a three-pointer to break the fourth tie of the half and sent the Berg on its way to a nine-point advantage at the break, 33-24.

Heidelberg extended its lead to as many as 12 points in the second half with 6:14 left in regulation. The Berg led 57-45 before five-straight points by the Rams. Two Jessica Jennette (LaRue, Ohio / Elgin) free throws broke the scoring spree, but Cornell followed the free throws with a 9-0 run to knot the game at 59-59. Maureen Hunter (Toledo, Ohio / Notre Dame) drove the lane and was fouled, hitting her two free throws with 28 ticks left on the clock. Cowen hit a layup with 17 seconds left in the game to even the score at 61-61 and forced overtime.

Heidelberg’s Amanda Campbell (Pataskala, Ohio / Watkins Memorial) recorded her second double-double of the season, finishing with 22 points and 11 rebounds. Also scoring in double figures for the Berg was Skolnicki with 17 and Morgan Harrigan (Urbana, Ohio / Urbana) with 11.

For the game, Heidelberg forced Cornell to turn the ball over on 23 occasions, recording 14 steals in the process. Leading the defense was Campbell with four steals, while Skolnicki and Hunter had three apiece.

Leading the way for Cornell was Cowan with a game-high 27 points, to go along with nine rebounds.

Heidelberg returns to Ohio Athletic Conference action on Friday at Baldwin-Wallace College. Tip-off is slated for 7:30 p.m.