Scots' Second-Half Surge Not Enough in Setback to Bluffton

The College of Wooster outscored Bluffton University by six points in the second half, including 14 of Rachel Collins' season-high 18 points, but its late surge was not enough, as the Fighting Scots came up short, 81-64, on Saturday afternoon in non-conference action at Bluffton, Ohio.

It marked the seventh time that Collins, a sophomore, has reached double figures in scoring in her young career, and she was just one point shy of her personal best, 19, which she delivered against Geneva College (Nov. 20) almost a year ago today.

The Scots (1-3) started off slow, missing their first five shots from the field, which allowed the Beavers (2-1) to jump out to a 10-1 lead. Bluffton's advantage grew to 17 at 26-9, but Wooster put together a mini-run, with Rachel Huxhold, Sydney Grier, and Hannah Kiser scoring consecutive baskets to cut the deficit down to 11 (26-15).

The Beavers regained control at that juncture, as they went into the break with a 23-point lead (43-20), with Collins making a lay-up with 1:06 to go in the half – just her second basket of the game to that point.

As they have in each game so far this season, the Scots played better in the second half. Wooster made 10 of its first 13 shots from the field to start the stanza, including three 3-pointers from Collins over a 2:39 span, with the last one pulling the Scots within 21 (65-44).

Shortly after, Wooster played its best stretch of the game, a 12-2 scoring run capped off by a Lauren Hancher jumper that slashed Bluffton's cushion to just 13 (69-56) with about six minutes remaining. That was as close as the Scots got to catching the Beavers, though, as they cooled off down the stretch, allowing the host school to secure a victory.

Collins was efficient, scoring her game-high 18 points on 7-of-9 shooting, highlighted by 4-of-5 from behind the arc. Like Collins, Hancher came alive in the second half as well, where she scored 15 of her 17 points, to go along with four steals, three rebounds, and three assists.

Also noteworthy, Huxhold totaled eight points, five boards, and four assists, while Paige Fabry scored five points in 12 minutes off the bench.

Bluffton's offense was balanced, with four players scoring either 13 or 14 points, including Rachel Beining, who gave the Scots trouble with a double-double (14 points, 16 rebounds). Wooster was outrebounded 39-26 overall, with just two offensive boards.

Wooster will take time off for the holiday and return to the court Dec. 3 for a home game against northeast Ohio foe Case Western Reserve University (2-1).