Scots Edge Out Westminster, Go 2-0 at Nan Nichols Classic

WOOSTER, Ohio – The College of Wooster women's basketball team trailed by as many as nine points in the first half, and was down 35-30 midway through the second, but the Scots went on a 16-4 scoring run to take a seven-point lead and then held off a rally down the stretch to eek past Westminster (Pa.) College 50-47 on Sunday afternoon in the final game of the Nan Nichols Classic at Timken Gymnasium.

The Scots (2-0) were playing from behind for the majority of the game, but they kept the deficit manageable, which allowed them to make their move with less than 11 minutes to go in regulation. Trailing 35-30, Jessica Wingen knocked down a jumper from just outside the paint, and then after a defensive stop, Maura Hall drove to the basket for an old fashioned three-point play which tied the game (35-35) for the first time since early in the first half.

The Lady Titans (1-2) missed a 3-pointer on the other end, and Lindy Howard responded by sinking a momentum-changing 3-pointer from the left corner to give Wooster its first lead of the game at 38-35. Both teams traded baskets on the next few series, until Suvi Puripattarapan and Wingen hit back-to-back shots, and Karley Walker made a pair of free throws to give the Scots their largest lead of the game (46-39) with 4:54 to go.

Puripattarapan hit another key shot with 2:18 on the clock, when she pump-faked a 3-point attempt, and then drove the baseline for a layup to keep Wooster ahead 48-43.

Westminster kept at it, though, scoring two baskets during a quick 17-second spurt to make it a one-point game at 48-47.

Finally, Puripattarapan drew a foul in the closing seconds and was true on both free throw attempts to give Wooster its final margin of victory (50-47).

The Scots shot just 20.8 percent from the field in the first half, but more than doubled their accuracy (46.4 percent) in the second half. Meanwhile, Wooster's defense held Westminster to just 16-for-60 shooting (.267) from the field.

Wooster is now 2-0 for the first time since the 2006-07 season.

Statistically, Wingen led Wooster for the second time in as many days, this time tallying 14 points and 10 rebounds on her way to tournament MVP honors. Walker, who also was selected to the all-tournament team, was one of three Scots to score 10 points, joining Hall and Puripattarapan.

Westminster was paced by Katie Hughes (14 points, 12 rebounds), who made the all-tournament team, as did Melissa Graham and Shannon McGinnis from State University of New York at Geneseo, and Amy O'Keefe from Franciscan University of Steubenville.

SUNY Geneseo upended Franciscan 78-43 in the early game.