Wooster Falls in Holiday Classic Finale Against Centre

Centre College capitalized on stingy defense and a 20-point first period en route to a 73-51 victory over The College of Wooster women's basketball team as part of the final day of the Sewanee Holiday Classic on Saturday afternoon at Sewanee, Tenn.

Wooster (2-11) went down 10-4 nearly seven minutes through the first before a pair of free throws and a jumper from first-year Maria Janasko brought it to 12-8 with 1:41 left in the opening period.

The Colonels (10-1) ended on an 8-2 run and held Wooster to one field goal in the opening 10 minutes. Wooster's 8-for-8 showing at the charity stripe during the first period was anchored by a 4-for-4 clip from junior Anna Gibbs.

With both teams scoreless through the opening 2:43 of the second period, Centre's offense spark midway through the second stanza with an 11-5 run before closing the half leading 32-17.

Centre limited Wooster to 3-for-26 shooting in the first half.

In the third period, the Scots twice reached back to within 12 points. Wooster poured in a team-best 19 points in the period, led by five points from first-year reserve Sarah Marion and four from both sophomore Erica Roberts and Gibbs.

Wooster tacked on 15 points in the final period and shot 42 percent overall in the second half.

Sophomore Cat Fiorito scored a season-best 10 points on 3-for-5 shooting, including a 4-for-4 clip from the free throw line. Marion also chipped in with a season-high 10 points, including a 2-for-3 showing from deep.

Gibbs co-led all scorers with 15 points.

Up next, Wooster resumes North Coast Athletic Conference play against Ohio Wesleyan on Saturday, Jan. 6 at 1 p.m. at Delaware, Ohio.