Hancher's Surge Not Enough, as Terriers Nip Scots 60-59

WOOSTER, Ohio – Lauren Hancher scored 16 straight points in the second half to help The College of Wooster erase a 10-point deficit, but it wasn't quite enough, as Hiram College nipped the Fighting Scots 60-59 on Wednesday evening in a battle between North Coast Athletic Conference Tournament hopefuls at Timken Gymnasium.

With the Scots (6-12, 1-9 NCAC) trailing by 10 with about 15 minutes to go in the game, Hancher simply took over, as she scored all 16 points during Wooster's 16-6 scoring run to knot the score at 43-43. 

Moments later, Wooster took its first lead of the half, as Suvi Puripattarapan drove to the basket for a lay-in that made it 45-43 with 8:14 remaining in regulation.

The Terriers (5-13, 1-8 NCAC) regained the advantage on their very next possession, with an old-fashioned three-point play, and then proceeded to keep Wooster at bay over the next four and a half minutes, until Karley Walker drained her fourth 3-pointer of the night to put Wooster back on top 53-52.

The Scots connected on another big 3-pointer moments later, this time from Sydney Grier, which tied the game at 56-56.

With Wooster down 59-57, Maura Hall earned a trip to the free throw line and sunk both attempts to make it 59-59 with just 15 seconds on the clock.

Hiram rushed down the court on its next possession, and Wooster had no choice but to foul Christy Griffin, who had snuck past the defense and was likely going to score an easy lay-up otherwise.

Griffin made her first free throw to put Hiram ahead 60-59, and then missed the second, but with just a few ticks left, the Scots were unable to go the length of the court and get off a decent look at the basket.

Walker led all scorers with 22 points, including the first six points of the game on a pair of 3-pointers. She also powered Wooster's 82.6 percent (19-of-23) effort from the free throw line, going 6-for-7, and added seven rebounds.

Hancher chipped in 19 points, with 17 coming in the second half, and Hall, Grier, and Puripattarapan each recorded six points to round out Wooster's scorers.

Danielle Day paced Hiram with a double-double (21 points, 12 rebounds).

Next up, Wooster hosts Ohio Wesleyan University (10-8, 5-4 NCAC) exactly a week from today.