Allegheny Uses Second-Half Surge to Down Wooster

The College of Wooster women's basketball team trailed by just four points late in the first half, but Allegheny College outscored the Fighting Scots 42-16 after the break, and went on to notch an 80-46 victory Wednesday evening in a matchup between North Coast Athletic Conference foes at Meadville, Pa.

Jessica Wingen had the hot hand early on, as she scored three of Wooster's (2-14, 0-6 NCAC) initial five baskets, pulling the Scots within 12-10 almost midway through the opening stanza. At that juncture, Allegheny (10-6, 4-2 NCAC) went on a quick 8-0 scoring run, and eventually led by as much as 28-14, before Wooster began cutting into its deficit.

A Karley Walker 3-pointer brought Wooster back within single digits, and Keshia Butler and Suvi Puripattarapan went in on back-to-back baskets that cut Allegheny's lead to 34-30 with just 1:22 remaining before halftime.

Allegheny's Daryl Ford scored the last four points of the first half, pushing the Gators' cushion back up to eight (38-30), and Wooster was never able to recover. Taylor Keegan and Ashley Lindemann both knocked down 3-balls in the second half, but an almost six-minute long Wooster scoreless stretch allowed Allegheny to pile onto its lead.

Neither team shot well from the field, but the Gators were lights out at the free throw line, going 22-for-25 (88.0 percent). Wooster again was without standout post player Kristen Schwartz, and was easily outrebounded 53-28.

Leading the Scots statistically was Keegan with 11 points, which included a 3-for-7 effort from behind the arc. Wingen, who was limited due to foul trouble, was next in line with nine points, and Walker added seven.

The Gators had five players score in double figures, highlighted by Heidi Goeller's 15 points and eight rebounds.

This Saturday the Scots will host archrival Wittenberg University (8-8, 3-3 NCAC) at 2 p.m.