Wooster Comeback Stalls in 57-46 Setback to Muskingum

WOOSTER, Ohio – The College of Wooster women's basketball team battled back from a 14-point second half deficit to pull within 47-43 with less than three minutes remaining in regulation, but Muskingum University closed out the game on a 10-3 run to drop the Fighting Scots 57-46 Saturday afternoon during the Nan Nichols Classic at Timken Gymnasium.

The Scots (1-2) dug themselves a deep hole early in this contest, but nearly completed an impressive comeback late in the second half. Trailing 47-35 with 5:35 on the clock, Suvi Puripattarapan slashed to the hoop for a lay in that pulled Wooster within 10. On the ensuing possession, Jessica Wingen came up with a steal and Sarah Abboud drained a 3-pointer in transition to make it 47-40.

Moments later, Maura Hall sunk a free throw to pull the team within six (47-41), and then Puripattarapan stole the ball which led to an easy Wingen basket in the paint to cut Muskingum's lead to 47-43.

The score remained that way until there was 2:05 left in regulation, when Amanda Dobbins drained a jumper that gave Muskingum a little more breathing room (49-43). A missed Wooster 3-pointer on the next possession turned into a Muskingum basket on the other end, and suddenly Wooster was down by eight (51-43) with 1:05 to go.

With the Scots forced to foul, the Muskies closed out the game 6-for-6 from the free throw line to seal the victory.

Wooster shot just 4-for-20 from the field in the first half, and at one point trailed on the scoreboard 20-6. In the end, Wooster (30.6 percent) actually outshot Muskingum (26.2 percent) on the day, but the Muskies dominated the boards 55-39 and scored 19 second chance points.

Wingen led the Scots with eight points and a career-high 16 rebounds. Karley Walker scored 10 points, and Suvi Puripattarapan had six points and two steals. All three Scots were members of the all-tournament team.

Also noteworthy, Hall scored a career-high nine points and added four rebounds in some key minutes off the bench.

For Muskingum, Dobbins was named tournament MVP after recording a double-double in both games over the weekend, including 16 points and 10 rebounds in this contest. Hannah Oakley racked up 17 points and 12 rebounds against Wooster and was also named all-tourney.

The early game saw University of Northwestern Ohio topple Earlham College 95-60. Earlham's Nikki Darrett nabbed the final spot on the all-tournament team.