Scots Show Improvement Despite 70-61 Loss at Kenyon

The College of Wooster took a big step towards changing its recent history with Kenyon College, as it reached 60 points against the Ladies for the first time in eight years (16 games), and remained within striking distance the entire second half, but ultimately, the Fighting Scots came up nine points short, 70-61, in a battle between North Coast Athletic Conference teams Saturday afternoon at Gambier, Ohio.

The last time the Scots (6-9, 1-6 NCAC) got to 60 points against the Ladies (9-6, 4-3 NCAC) was in a 73-62 setback during the 2006-07 season.

Wooster had just a four-point deficit (47-43) midway through the second half, after Lindy Howard pulled down an offensive rebound and scored on a put-back, but over the next two minutes, Kenyon scored six unanswered points to go up 10, 53-43.

The Scots pulled back within single-digits several times down the stretch, including at the 2:20 mark, when Sydney Grier drained a 3-pointer to make it a seven-point game (62-55).

Wooster was within seven three more times after that, as Maura Hall made a pair of free throws at 1:30 (64-57), Suvi Puripattarapan knocked down a jumper at 0:40 (66-59), and with just 0:17 remaining, Hall again sunk two from the charity stripe (68-61), although that was as close as the Scots got to pulling off the upset.

One of Wooster's best sequences came earlier in the second half, as Lauren Hancher constructed her own 6-0 scoring run with three consecutive baskets in the paint to draw the Scots within just one at 42-41.

Wooster led by as much as four early in the first half, when a Rachel Collins 3-pointer made it 11-7, and its last lead was by two (27-25) less than three minutes before the break.

Hall paced Wooster with 15 points, her most in five games, and added eight rebounds, while Hancher racked up her eighth double-figure game in a row with 14 points (and 5 boards).

Grier was next in line with nine points, while Puripattarapan added six points and eight rebounds.

Maureen Hirt led the Ladies with 19 points, with a 9-of-10 effort from the free throw line.

Wooster will head to Allegheny College (10-6, 4-3 NCAC) on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.