Scots Edged Out by Gators 65-63

Rachel Huxhold scored 13 of The College of Wooster's last 22 points, including a jump shot that tied the game with 1:35 remaining in regulation, but Allegheny College did enough to escape with a 65-63 victory over the Fighting Scots on Wednesday evening in a highly-competitive North Coast Athletic Conference match-up at Meadville, Pa.

It was a back-and-forth contest between the Scots (6-10, 1-7 NCAC) and Gators (11-6, 5-3 NCAC), that featured nine lead changes and seven ties, and Huxhold nearly pushed Wooster to a win down the stretch with her best performance of the season.

After six scoreless minutes off the bench in the first half, Huxhold checked back in with 15:03 to go in the second half, and she never left the court again, as the sophomore guard went 4-for-6 from the field with a 3-pointer, and sunk four free throws, giving the Scots a spark in crunch time.

Huxhold put Wooster ahead 55-54 with an old-fashioned three-point play, but the Gators went up 58-55 moments later. The Scots quickly regained the lead, though, as Huxhold made a pair from the charity stripe, and shortly after, Lauren Hancher dropped in a lay-up as part of her team-high 18 points that made it 59-58 with 3:21 on the clock.

The Gators converted three of their four free throw attempts over the next minute and a half to take a 61-59 lead, but once again Huxhold answered back, this time hitting a jumper that knotted the score at 61-61.

Allegheny regained the lead (63-61) with a lay-up, and then went up four (65-61) after a couple free throws, but Wooster made one last push during the final ticks of the game. Rachel Collins slashed to the hoop for a bucket with 0:03 left, and she drew a foul, but her free throw miss was corralled by Allegheny's Emma Pellicano, who didn't allow the Scots to get an offensive board and attempt a put-back.

Wooster led by as much as eight (21-13) in the first half, but the two teams went to the halftime break tied at 31-31.

Hancher paced the team in scoring with 18 points, adding five rebounds and three steals, while Huxhold (13 points) and Collins (12 points) led a strong outing from the Scots' bench.

Rounding out Wooster's leaders were Karley Walker with 10 points and six rebounds, and Maura Hall with nine boards.

Pellicano was key for Allegheny with a game-high 22 tallies and 15 rebounds.

The Scots will play DePauw University (16-0, 7-0 NCAC) on the road Saturday at 3 p.m.