Scots Edge Past Hiram 70-61 Aided by Wenz’s Double-Double

WOOSTER, Ohio – The College of Wooster women's basketball team ended a two-game losing streak Saturday afternoon, erasing a three-point halftime deficit in the opening minutes of the second half, and holding off a late run by Hiram College in a 70-61 victory in North Coast Athletic Conference action inside Timken Gymnasium.

Trailing by three at the halftime break (38-35), Wooster (5-9, 3-3 NCAC) scored just nine seconds into the second half and cut the Terrier lead to one via a lay-up from Kaitlin Krister on a nifty assist by Samantha Justice. Following two free throw makes by Hiram's Brittany Mayle, Justice scored her lone points of the game canning a three-point field goal on an assist from Kym Wenz, drawing the teams even at 40-40 with 16:57 remaining, the fifth deadlock in the game.

Wooster raced out to a seven-point advantage over the next 2:18 on four points by Krister and a three-pointer by Meredith Wilson. Hiram (3-11, 2-4 NCAC) whittled the deficit down to three on numerous occasions (47-44, 49-46, 51-48), but the Scots maintained their composure, keeping the visitors at bay. In a final effort to take the lead, the Terriers cut the lead to three with 1:57 left on a lay-up by Ashley Drum. However, Wenz (8-of-8) and Wilson (2-of-2) knocked down all 10 of their charity tosses, staving off any comeback attempt by the visitors.

Over the first 8:09 of the contest, the two teams traded baskets that resulted in four ties and neither team holding more than a three-point cushion, as the game was knotted at 20-20. Over the next 5:50, Hiram reeled off a 13-6 run, and held its largest lead of the contest at 33-26 with 6:01 left in the opening stanza. Wooster eventually cut the Terrier lead to two on a three-pointer by Wilson with 2:54 left, before each team recorded quick spurts of 5-0 by Hiram and 4-0 by Wooster headed into the locker room.

Wenz and Krister were high scorers for the Scots with 26 and 17 points, respectively. Wenz also grabbed 11 boards off the glass to record her third double-double this season and fifth of her career, in addition to dishing out three assists. Krister also tallied a near double-double with nine rebounds, while Deanna Pickett chipped in with seven points and eight boards.

Also for Wooster, Wilson finished in double digits with 13 points, including three treys and two assists.

Drum led the Hiram attack with 13 points and a game-high 12 rebounds off the bench, while Alex Dallas added 13 points and eight rebounds. Additionally, Jess Cowan and Mayle contributed 12 and 11 points.

Wooster will try to make it two in a row on Wednesday when it travels to Lake Erie College (5-13) in a non-conference affair with tip-off scheduled for 7 p.m.