Wooster Storms Past Oberlin 61-46

WOOSTER, Ohio – The College of Wooster women's basketball team held a slight lead over Oberlin College for the majority of the game, but it wasn't until an 11-0 scoring run during the last four minutes of the second half that the Fighting Scots put the Yeowomen away for good by a final score of 61-46 Wednesday evening in a North Coast Athletic Conference tilt at Timken Gymnasium.

Now winners of two of their last three games, the Scots (3-12, 2-5 NCAC) found themselves ahead by just a slim margin late in the second half after Malisa Hoak drained a 3-pointer to pull the Yeowomen (4-12, 1-6 NCAC) within 40-35 with 5:20 remaining in regulation.

Wooster responded when Maura Hall drove to the hoop and drew a trip to the free throw line, where she proceeded to sink both shots to push the lead to seven (42-35). Oberlin missed a shot on its ensuing possession, and on Wooster's way back down the court, Hall again got loose in the paint, this time dropping in a lay-up to extend the cushion to 44-35 with about three minutes to go in the second half.

Over the next minute, the Scots continued to pull away, as Sarah Abboud made a pair of baskets from the charity stripe, and Jessica Wingen dropped in a jumper to make it 48-35. Wingen then blocked an Oberlin shot attempt, and Suvi Puripattarapan snagged the defensive rebound and splashed a 3-pointer in transition to complete Wooster's 11-0 run (51-37).

Oberlin repeatedly fouled Wooster to close out the game, but the Scots responded by making 8-of-9 free throws during the final minute to seal the outcome. Overall, the Scots shot 79.2 percent (19-of-24) from the free throw line.

Abboud followed up her 14-point outing last week with a career-high 17 in this one, which included two 3-pointers and a 7-of-8 effort on free throws.

Wingen (12) and Karley Walker (10) also reached double-figures, while Hall (9 points) and Puripattarapan (6 assists) were key offensively. Also noteworthy, Samantha Sulzer neared a double-double with eight points and eight rebounds.

Oberlin was led by Kelly Warwich who tallied 14 points and 13 rebounds.

The Scots will look to continue their improved play when they host archrival Wittenberg University Saturday at 2 p.m.