Aki Shurelds

The College of Wooster women's basketball team outscored Denison University 20-10 in the fourth period, but a big second stanza from the Big Red led to an uphill second-half battle for the Fighting Scots, who ultimately fell 63-52 on Saturday afternoon at Livingston Gymnasium in Granville, Ohio.

A layup from first-year Maria Janasko capped the Scots' first-period scoring, as Wooster (4-17, 2-10 North Coast Athletic Conference) held a 13-11 lead at the first break.

In the second period, lights-out shooting led the Big Red (10-12, 5-8 NCAC) to a 26-6 scoring advantage. While Wooster went 3-for-14 from the floor, Denison hit on all cylinders with 9-for-15 shooting, including 3-for-5 from beyond the arc.

The Scots' bench came alive in the third period, led by seven points from sophomore Kylie Orr, who finished with a team-high 13 on the day. The Newport, Ky. native shot 3-for-3 in the third as Wooster entered the fourth period down 53-32.

Wooster saw scoring contributions from seven players in the fourth, led by five points from senior Aki Shurelds, who finished the game with 12. In addition to a 7-for-10 showing at the foul line, the Scots garnered 10 rebounds in the fourth and shot over 46 percent from the floor while holding Denison to 2-for-11 shooting.

Despite the 20-10 scoring advantage in the fourth, time proved too little as the Big Red held on for their fifth conference win of the season.

Keys to Denison's victory were a 19-8 points-off-turnovers edge and 35.3 percent shooting from three-point range.

For Wooster, first-year Sarah Marion pulled down a season-high nine rebounds while junior Anna Gibbs dished a team-high four assists.

Up next, Wooster hosts Allegheny College (5-15, 2-10 NCAC) on Wednesday, Feb. 7 at 7:30 p.m.