The College of Wooster women's basketball team once again fell victim to a slow start in an 81-52 loss to Denison University on Wednesday.

Denison scored the first 18 points in the North Coast Athletic Conference game before junior Paige Wells broke the lid on Wooster's rim with 2:27 to go in the quarter. Denison led 22-9 after one quarter, and while Wooster played better for the final three quarters, they could not climb back into the game.

Sophomore Harley Holloway led all scorers with 22 points, reaching double figures for the fourth straight game. She also had five rebounds.

Junior Riley Thorr topped her career-high of seven points last time out with 11 on Wednesday. She went 5-of-9 from the floor and was one of four Scots to grab a team-high five rebounds.

Sophomore Melissa Burtscher also saw new heights in scoring. In her third start this season, she reached eight points.

First-year Tamara Turner added six points and five rebounds.

Wooster was again played short-handed with just eight players finding minutes.

Denison's Mikaila Carpenter recorded a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds.

Wooster had a nice 10-0 late in the third quarter started by a 3-pointer from Burtscher. Thorr found a bucket in the paint thanks to an assist from Jenna Stanton, and Turner scored the next five.

That cut the lead to 20, but Wooster would not get that close again for the rest of the game.

Denison (7-10, 5-5 NCAC) outrebounded Wooster 53-35. They shot 50 percent (35-of-70) from the floor, while Wooster shot 31 percent (20-of-65).

Wooster moves to 4-15 overall and 3-7 in conference play. They will travel to Kenyon College on Sunday.