SPRINGFIELD, Ohio – Junior wing Brooke Orcutt (Morrison, Colo./Dakota Ridge) posted 19 points and five rebounds, but the Case Western Reserve University women's basketball team lost 77-53 to host Wittenberg University in the final game of the Charles B. Zimmerman Memorial Classic on Saturday evening at Pam Evans Smith Arena.

The Spartans (6-5) are now idle for two weeks before opening University Athletic Association action. The Tigers (6-4) snap a two-game losing skid.

In addition to Orcutt, sophomore post Laura Mummey (Hudson, Ohio/Hudson) and senior guard Julie Mooney (Dublin, Ohio/Dublin Jerome) each scored eight for the Spartans.

Wittenberg was led by Amber Rice and Heather Schroeder with 24 and 20 points, respectively.

After outscoring its previous two opponents by a combined 77-11 in bench points, the Spartan reserves were outdone by those from Wittenberg, 37-12. The Tigers were also plus 19 in rebounding and plus six in three-pointers made.   

The Spartans held an early first-half lead before the Tigers gained their first advantage at 15:46.  A jumper by junior guard Chelsea Steen (Newark, Ohio/Newark) pulled her team to within 18-15 at the 9:36 mark, but Wittenberg opened the game up with a 13-4 run that ended in a Rice three, making the score 31-19 at 3:28. After two Orcutt free throws on the following possession, Wittenberg ended the half with the final nine points to lead 40-21 at the break.

In the second half, the Spartans scored the opening four points, but Wittenberg answered to build its lead to as many as 26.

The Spartans are back in action on Saturday, January 11 versus UAA rival Carnegie Mellon University (Pa.) at 3:00 p.m. at Horsburgh Gymnasium.