WOOSTER, Ohio - The College of Wooster women's basketball team erased a 15-point deficit to take a 41-38 lead with 10:41 remaining in the game, but the Fighting Scots fizzled out down the stretch and Wittenberg University secured a 61-53 win on Saturday in North Coast Athletic Conference action at Timken Gymnasium.
The Scots (1-5, 0-2 NCAC) trailed 34-38 with 14:57 remaining in the game, when Samantha Justice knocked down a basket that started a 7-0 Wooster run. Keshia Butler hit a jumper along the baseline that tied the game 38-38, and then Sarah Abboud hit a deep 3-pointer that gave Wooster its first lead of the game. With momentum on its side, Wooster then went cold over the next three minutes, and the Tigers (2-3, 1-0 NCAC) took advantage by posting their own 9-0 run that gave them a 49-41 lead with under eight minutes to go.
In the game's waning moments, Kym Wenz buried a 3-ball, and Kaitlin Krister scored on a Justice assist that brought the Scots within six (53-59), but it was too little too late, as Wittenberg forced Wooster into 0-of-4 shooting over the final minute to seal the win.
Wittenberg started the game on an 8-0 run, and proceeded to build a 25-10 lead with 6:28 remaining until the break. Wooster shot just 28.1 percent in the first half and turned the ball over 11 times, but the Tigers managed to match Wooster in turnovers while converting shots at a lower rate (26.5 percent), allowing the Scots to cut the deficit to 22-28 at the half.
The Scots committed a season-high 25 personal fouls in the game resulting in 30 free throw opportunities for the Tigers, but Wittenberg only converted 50 percent (15-of-30) of those free throws which kept Wooster within reach throughout the contest.
Wenz led the Scots' scoring efforts with 19 points on 7-of-19 shooting, which included three buckets from behind the arc. Kaitlin Krister added 12 points on 5-of-10 shooting, but no other Scot recorded more than four points in the setback. Taylor Keegan was dominant on the boards, recording a career-high nine rebounds, while adding two assists in 19 minutes off the bench.
For Wittenberg, it was Stephanie Boardman leading the way, as she posted a double-double (20 points, 10 rebounds) and added two steals to pace the Tigers. Elise Jenkins had 14 points and eight rebounds, and Katie Hueter chipped in 12 points and seven rebounds to go along with four steals.
Wooster will take a break from conference action and host Ursuline College (2-8) next Saturday at 3 p.m.