Wooster Miscues Allow Defiance to Roll 77-63

Despite outshooting and outrebounding its counterpart, The College of Wooster women's basketball team had its chance at back-to-back wins spoiled, as Defiance College capitalized on turnovers and trips to the foul line to drop the Fighting Scots 77-63 in non-conference action Wednesday night.

A quick look over the game statistics and it appears that the Fighting Scots (2-6) could have won this contest. The Scots had a higher shooting percentage (41.0 to 39.1), and won the battle on the boards (45 to 37), but it was a season-high 24 turnovers that led to 22 points on the other end which gave the Yellow Jackets (5-4) momentum throughout the night. Wooster also committed 23 personal fouls, giving Defiance the opportunity to go 22-of-32 from the free throw line, which clearly was the difference maker in this game.

Ironically, Defiance scored the game's initial two points at the foul line, but Wooster answered back with a Kaitlin Krister basket that tied the game 2-2. The Yellow Jackets than went on a 5-0 run to push their lead to 7-2, and never looked back, as they led Wooster throughout the entire game, including an 18-point margin at the break.

Defiance pushed its lead to as much as 21 points (57-36) midway through the second half, but a Samantha Justice 3-pointer with 2:58 remaining in the game drew the Scots within 12 (72-60). Colleen Goodwillie scored Wooster's final points on a 3-ball of her own with 43 seconds on the clock, and the Scots outscored Defiance 44-40 in the second half, but it was not enough to cut into the deficit that was created in the game's early goings.

Krister had a solid game in the post, racking up 19 points to go along with a game-high 12 rebounds for her first double-double of the season. Kym Wenz added 12 points and six boards, and Jessica Wingen scored in double-digits (10) and pulled down six rebounds in 18 minutes.

Defiance was led by Mandie White who dropped 21 points on 8-of-11 shooting, while tallying eight boards and two steals in the win.

The Scots will head back home to host Alma College (1-7) in a non-conference tilt Friday at 6 p.m.