Last-Second Heave Rims Out as Muskingum Rallies Past Wooster Behind Big Fourth Quarter

WOOSTER, Ohio – The Fighting Scots' women's basketball team was left inches away from its first home victory of the season after a last-ditch half-court shot from sophomore Anna Gibbs hit the square of the backboard and spun out, as Muskingum University surmounted a 19-point comeback to defeat The College of Wooster, 70-68, on Sunday afternoon at Timken Gymnasium.

Sunday marked a career-day for Gibbs, who went 11-for-20 from the field for a career-best 26 points, in addition to recording three rebounds, two steals, and one assist. Sophomore Christina Vukovich pulled down a game-high 12 rebounds to match her 12 points in the starting center position.

Muskingum (4-3, 2-1 Ohio Athletic Conference) was led by Alexandra Carson, who put up 15 points on 5-for-12 shooting, while three others – Caitlyn Smith, Olivia Besancon, and Stephanie Clark – each contributed 10 points of their own.

The Scots (1-8, 0-3 North Coast Athletic Conference) got off to a hot start in the first half, shooting 36.4 percent from the field (16-for-44), including 6-for-17 (35.3 percent) from beyond the arc.

First-period scoring – which has been a point of emphasis for Wooster – favored the Scots, who capitalized on a 9-2 opening run and stellar defensive play to close out the first 10 minutes of play with a 17-10 lead.

Of note, in the opening period, Wooster held the Fight Muskies to 2-for-18 shooting (11.1 percent), including 1-for-12 from 3-point range (8.3 percent), in addition to forcing six Muskingum turnovers.

In the second period, Gibbs came through with 11 points on 5-for-10 shooting, while Vukovich posted eight of her 12 points, as the Scots outscored Muskingum 25-14 in the period en route to taking a 42-24 lead going into the halftime break.

The Muskies began to chip away through the third, however, as four players tallied at least four points to cut Wooster's lead to 15 before the start of the fourth despite the Scots going 7-for-11 in the third.

In the fourth, Gibbs stretched the Wooster lead back to 17 after strong take to the rim, but a 15-5 Muskies' run – capped off by a layup from Carson – brought Muskingum to within eight with 4:17 remaining in the game.

With 2:46 left in the game, the Scots' lead stood at three after a 5-0 mini-run was cut by made free-throw from first-year Cat Fiorito, who came down with seven boards and three assists on the day.

Matching jumpers from Dana Parkman and Gibbs gave Wooster a 68-65 lead with 1:05 remaining, but a made layup from Muskingum's Clark cut the Scots' advantage to one with :43 remaining.

Out of the timeout, Wooster broke the Muskies' press to advance the ball past half court, but continuous high pressure from Carson proved the difference as she came away with a steal before laying up the breakaway opportunity with :23 left to give Muskingum its first lead of the day.

On the ensuing possession, Gibbs' 3-point attempt fell off the mark and Muskingum's Mallory Taylor headed to the line after a pair of last-ditch fouls by the Scots.

After missing the first attempt, Taylor converted on the second, giving Wooster – who had no timeouts remaining – a final desperation shot.

With :02 remaining, Gibbs dribbled through traffic before hoisting up an off-balance half-court heave that fell on target but rimmed out, as Muskingum surmounted a 19-point deficit earlier in the third period to take the decision, 70-68.

The Muskies outscored the Scots 27-10 in the final period on behalf of 10-for-18 shooting (55.6 percent).

In a tale of two halves, each team's bench performance proved crucial, as Wooster's bench outscored Muskingum 16-6 in the first half while roles reversed in the second half with Muskingum's reserves outscoring the Scots' 14-1.

Wooster returns to action on Tuesday at Bluffton University (6-1, 2-1 Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference) for a 5 p.m. tip.