WOOSTER, Ohio – Behind a season-high 19 steals and season-low 12 turnovers, The College of Wooster women's basketball team took a two-point lead into the break and turned it into a 21-point blowout, as the Fighting Scots upended Westminster College 69-48 in a non-conference tilt Wednesday at Timken Gymnasium.
The Scots (3-7, 0-2 NCAC) totaled eight more steals and had 15 less turnovers than the Titans (3-7) in the game, but back-to-back baskets by Kaitlin McCarthy and Amy Dolsak drew Westminster within 41-43 with 11:50 remaining in the game. From that moment on Wooster began capitalizing on its opportunities and went on an exciting 26-7 run to close out the contest, which included nine points and three steals by Kym Wenz.
Taylor Keegan knocked down a 3-pointer with 6:46 remaining that gave Wooster's shooters a spark, as the Scots went on a 10-0 run on 5-of-5 shooting that culminated with a Colleen Goodwillie 3-ball that pushed the Scot lead to 18 (63-45). Westminster did not score over the last three minutes, and Wenz made a steal that she turned into a lay up down the stretch to close out the Wooster win.
Despite a strong defensive effort in the first half, the Scots were only able to score four points off of 12 Westminster turnovers, and held just a slight 29-27 lead at the break. Samantha Sulzer scored three consecutive baskets late in the half that put Wooster ahead 27-21, but a 5-of-5 effort from the foul line over the final minute and a half allowed Westminster to draw within two.
The Scots appeared reenergized in the second half, as they scored 22 points off of turnovers and saw Wenz (23), Krister (11) and Goodwillie (10) reach double-digits in scoring. Wooster shot a solid 18-of-22 (81.8 percent) from the charity stripe, compared to Westminster's 9-of-15 (60 percent), and outscored the Titans 30-20 in the paint.
Wenz's game-high 23 points marked her third-straight game with at least 20 points, as she went 10-of-13 from the foul line and added six rebounds and five steals. Krister chipped in a game-high eight rebounds to go along with her 11 points, and Goodwillie scored six of her 10 points from long range and snagged a season-best three steals.
Westminster used a balanced attack, as McCarthy's 11 points led nine Titans who recorded a basket in the game, while Dolsak totaled eight points and two blocks in the setback.
Wooster will start 2010 with a trip to Trine University (5-6) on Saturday at 3 p.m. in its final non-conference game of the season, followed by a North Coast Athletic Conference clash with Ohio Wesleyan University (7-4, 2-0 NCAC) on Jan. 5.