Suvi Puripattarapan

WOOSTER, Ohio – Following an almost two week long break without game action, The College of Wooster women's basketball team struggled to find a rhythm Thursday evening, as Defiance College outdueled the Fighting Scots 53-38 at Timken Gymnasium.

Besides a 3-pointer from Suvi Puripattarapan and a Kristen Schwartz layup, the Scots (1-10) were held in check in the early goings, and trailed by 18 points (23-5) just 10 minutes into the first half. Eventually Wooster gained some momentum, as it strung together an 11-2 run to pull within nine (25-16). The teams traded baskets to close out the half, with the Yellow Jackets (4-7) taking an 11-point lead at intermission.

Taylor Keegan began the second half with a 3-ball that cut Wooster's deficit to eight (29-21), but that was as close as it got to catching up to Defiance. The Scots did play a much closer second half, though, and not including the game's opening 10 minutes, they actually outscored the Yellow Jackets 33-30 during the remainder of the contest.

No player on either team hit double-digits in scoring, but Wooster's Puripattarapan led the way with nine points and six rebounds. Also noteworthy, Schwartz added six points and a game-high 12 boards.

The Yellow Jackets had 12 players put a tally on the scoreboard, with Courtney Schmersal's eight points being a team-high.

Next, Wooster will visit Earlham College (0-10) Jan. 30 at 6 p.m.