WOOSTER, Ohio – The College of Wooster women's basketball team took an early lead and then steadily pulled away down the stretch, posting a 71-58 victory, and sweeping its season series with Oberlin College on Saturday night in North Coast Athletic Conference action at Timken Gymnasium.
The Fighting Scots (8-13, 5-7 NCAC) and the Yeowomen (4-17, 3-9 NCAC) traded buckets in the opening minutes, but a Jessica Wingen basket followed by a Kym Wenz 3-pointer put Wooster ahead six (16-10) midway through the first half. Oberlin then went on a 9-4 run that culminated with a Syrea Thomas 3-ball to draw within one (19-20), but that was as close as it would come to catching Wooster.
Colleen Goodwillie hit back-to-back 3-pointers over a 45 second span on assists by Keshia Butler and Kaitlin Krister to push Wooster's lead to 30-21 with 5:09 remaining before the break. Krister later knocked down a jumper that gave Wooster an 11-point advantage, but Oberlin's Allison Anderson connected from behind the arc to narrow the Yeowomen's deficit to eight (24-32) at the half.
Anderson opened the second stanza with another 3-ball, and a basket by Kayla Brandt with 13:13 remaining in the game brought Oberlin within four (40-36). The Scots retaliated over the next four minutes of action, as Wenz drained a jumper that wrapped up a 9-0 Wooster run and pushed its lead to 13 (49-36).
Oberlin was never able to close the gap, as Wooster kept the pressure on, and then knocked down 15-of-16 free throw attempts over the final two minutes to seal the win. Samantha Justice went 5-of-6 from the charity stripe during that stretch, and finished the game 7-of-8 at the line with 11 points and three rebounds.
Kristen Schwartz was a difference maker in the paint for Wooster, as she scored a career-high 17 points on 7-of-11 shooting to go along with seven boards, two blocks, and two steals. Also chipping in 17 points and seven boards was Wenz, who splashed two 3-pointers and was 7-of-8 from the free throw line as well.
Anderson led Oberlin, as she racked up game-highs in points (23) and assists (9) in the setback. Brandt and Thomas poured in 10 points apiece, and the NCAC's rebounding leader, Emily Chu Finkel, pulled down a game-high eight boards.
The Scots will host another NCAC tilt this Wednesday night, when Allegheny College (8-11, 5-5 NCAC) visits Timken for a 7:30 p.m. tip-off.