Cold First-Half Shooting Sinks Wooster at Muskingum

Scots outscore Fighting Muskies in second half, but slow start hurts Wooster

Paige Fabry
Paige Fabry
December 21, 2015

The College of Wooster women's basketball team outscored host Muskingum University in the second half, but the Fighting Scots could not overcome a cold first-half shooting performance, as the Fighting Muskies won 66-51 in non-conference action on Monday afternoon at the Muskingum Recreation Center in New Concord, Ohio.

For the game, Wooster (5-5) shot just 25 percent (15-of-60) from the field. The Scots improved in the second half, connecting at a 32.1 percent clip, but were unable to climb out of an 18-point halftime deficit.

Neither team mustered much scoring in the early going, prior to a jumper from junior Natalie Coschigano giving Wooster a brief 2-0 lead with 8:01 left in the opening stanza. From there, Muskingum (2-7) went on a 9-2 run, opening a five-point advantage with 4:31 left in the frame.

First-year Shar Hankerson added two jumpers late in the first period, as part of her 10-point contribution on the day, to keep Wooster within striking distance as the Scots trailed 15-8 after one period of play.

Senior Lauren Hancher pulled Wooster back to within five at 17-12 in the second period, with two quick layups in the paint, prior to Muskingum closing out the half with an 11-1 run, to take a commanding 32-14 lead into the break.

Wooster had two key stretches in the third period. The first, led by junior Paige Fabry, saw the junior sink a pair of free throws, and secure a key defensive rebounds, that led to a quick Wooster score by Hancher in transition on the other end of the floor. The rebound was one of a team-best eight on the afternoon for the junior forward.
First-year Anna Gibbs led the charge late in the frame, with five straight points as part of a 7-0 Scot run, and would later add a 3-pointer with :03 remaining to cap the period.

Hankerson added a strong fourth period for the Scots, scoring six of Wooster's 18 points in the frame.

Hancher led the Scots on the afternoon with 12 points. Gibbs and Hankerson joined the dual-sport standout in double-figures with 10 points each.

Muskingum was led by Mallory Taylor, who recorded a double-double, with 13 points and 13 rebounds.

Wooster is off for nine days before playing at Mount St. Joseph University (1-8) at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 30.