Hiram Fends Off Keegan’s Second Half Surge, Wins 64-60

Down 30-21 at halftime, The College of Wooster slowly chipped away at its deficit behind Taylor Keegan's 14 second half points, but Hiram College was able to maintain a slight lead and hold off the Fighting Scots down the stretch 64-60 Thursday evening in a North Coast Athletic Conference tilt at Hiram, Ohio.

Keegan, who scored just four points in the opening stanza, knocked down a 3-pointer coming out of the break that pulled the Scots (2-17, 0-9 NCAC) within 30-24. Hiram (12-8, 4-5 NCAC) missed a basket on the ensuing possession, and Wooster scored in transition as Keshia Butler found Jessica Wingen under the basket to cut Hiram's lead to only four (30-26).

From that moment on, Wooster and Hiram continued to trade baskets for the majority of the half, including a pair of Keegan 3-balls that kept Wooster within five points at 34-29 and 39-34. Karley Walker hit a shot from behind the arc that again put the Scots as close as four down (47-43), but Hiram's Calysia Smyers responded with her own 3-ball to keep Wooster at bay.

With around seven minutes to go in regulation, Kristen Schwartz drained a jumper, and Keegan followed with her fourth 3-pointer of the half, leaving Wooster just two points (52-50) behind Hiram. Then an ill-timed cold spell hit, as the Scots went 0-for-5 from the field over the next three minutes, and a Chelsea Kovach fast break layup put Hiram ahead 58-50 and all but sealed the outcome.

Wooster trailed 8-0 to start the game, and never got closer than within six points during the first half.

Leading the Scots was Keegan, who finished with 18 points, six rebounds, and four assists. She went 4-for-5 from 3-point range in the second half, and connected on five 3-pointers in all.

Wingen turned in 11 points and seven boards, and Schwartz had matching eights in both scoring and rebounding. Also noteworthy, Walker filled up the stat sheet with seven points, five assists, and four rebounds.

Kovach paced Hiram with 13 tallies and nine rebounds, while Kelsey Durichko neared a double-double with 10 points and nine assists.

Next up, Wooster faces undefeated and nationally-ranked Denison University (20-0, 9-0 NCAC) this Saturday at Timken Gymnasium for a noon tip-off.