Heidelberg Suffers Season-Ending Loss at Muskingum

The Heidelberg University women’s basketball team, under the guidance of first-year head coach Marcie Alberts, suffered a 70-57 setback at Muskingum College tonight in its 2008-09 season finale.
 
The Berg closes out the year with an overall record of 6-19 and a 3-15 mark versus league foes, while Muskingum stands at 17-8 and 12-6. Heidelberg will graduate five players in Brittany Skolnicki (Lorain, Ohio / Clearview), Ashley Cornell (Lansing, Ill. / Thornton Fractional South), Morgan Harrigan (Urbana, Ohio / Urbana), Ashley Hawley (Sullivan, Ohio / Black River) and Sarah Kesse (Cincinnati, Ohio / Colerain).
 
Both teams battled through a rough shooting first half that featured eight lead changes and four ties. Skolnicki and Stacey Barker (Grove City, Ohio / Grove City) hit back-to-back three-pointers to give the Berg a five point advantage, 12-7, with 13:40 on the clock. Muskingum answered with a 5-0 run to tie the game for the first time at 12-12, as the opening half approached the midpoint. With the score knotted at 21-21 with 1:20 to play before the half, Muskingum’s Jessica McKenzie had a layup to one free throw from Heidelberg’s Skolnicki to give the Muskies a 23-22 lead at the intermission.
 
Muskingum came out and built an 11-point advantage, 39-28, just over five minutes into the second half. The Muskies extended its lead to as many as 20, 59-39, with 7:39 left in the contest. Barker continued with her long range arsenal, hitting three treys to highlight a 14-2 ‘Berg run to pull within eight points, 61-53, with 3:53 on the clock. Muskingum closed out the game outscoring the Berg 9-4 to post the win.
 
For the game, Heidelberg shot just 35.0 percent (21-of-60) from the field compared to 42.6 percent (29-of-68) by the host Muskies. Muskingum also held a 42-37 advantage on the glass.
 
Barker led the way for the Berg with a career-high 17points, including five three-pointers. She also dished out four assists and added three rebounds. Skolnicki finished with 12 points, four assists and four rebounds. Skolnicki closes out her career with 1,394 points, which ranks sixth all-time. Kesse led the way on the glass with nine rebounds, to go along with four points. Harrigan and Hawley each contributed three points in their final games with the Berg.
 
McKenzie led the way for the Muskies with a double-double consisting of 30 points and 15 boards.