On the snowy, icy Saturday afternoon of January 22, BW fans, parents, and students braved the elements to support both the women’s and men’s basketball teams as they took on the women’s and men’s teams from OAC foe Wilmington College. While not every seat was filled, those who attended brought the energy needed to secure wins for both the men and the women, as both teams continued to add to their impressive seasons so far.  

The #11 nationally ranked Jackets women’s basketball team (11-3, 8-1 OAC) began the day by defeating the Quakers of Wilmington by a final score of 61-30. The Yellow Jackets put this game out of reach early, dominating on both ends of the floor form the opening tip. The Jackets stormed out to a 14-2 start and never looked back, extending the lead to 35-10 at halftime.  

The Jackets dominated the battle on the glass, as they outrebounded the Quakers 45-24 for the entirety of the game, and had major contributions from the bench, as they outscored the bench of Wilmington 30-1. The Jackets put on a defensive clinic as well, holding the Quakers to 28% from the field while forcing 17 turnovers.  

The Jackets dominated for the entire 40 minutes even as the bench was emptied, showing the depth of the squad. Lilly Edwards led the way for the Jackets with 15 points, and Megan Scheibelhut dominated the glass with 12 rebounds.  

The Jackets followed the win up with a similarly comprehensive 66-42 victory over Heidelberg at home on January 26, extending their overall record to 12-3. 

The men’s game followed soon after the victory by the women, and BW’s winning ways continued. The Jackets (11-4, 6-2 OAC) defeated the Quakers by a final score of 85-75, extending their winning streak to 5 in a row. Wilmington came out quickly and pushed the Jackets around a bit, but around the 10-minute mark of the first half is when the Jackets were able to hold a sustainable lead.  

While both teams went back and forth with runs here and there, the Jackets were able to hold off the Quakers with excellent shooting, as they shot a steady 57% from the field, answering any run the Quakers could put together. Anthony Mazzeo led the way for the Jackets, scoring 25 points and grabbing 9 rebounds. Christian Pfeiffer (11 pts, 7 reb) and Jake Snyder (10 pts, 3 ast) had some major contributions as well, scoring at key moments during the game to thwart any Quaker comeback.  

Later that week, the Jackets men’s team dropped a road decision by a slim 65-64 to #21 Heidelberg on January 26, snapping their win streak at five.