Scots Nipped by OWU Again, 71-67

For the second time this season, The College of Wooster had a chance to tie Ohio Wesleyan University late in regulation, but its shot attempt was off the mark, as the Battling Bishops hung on to win another close one, 71-67, on Wednesday evening in North Coast Athletic Conference action at Delaware, Ohio.

The result was all too familiar for the Fighting Scots (1-19, 0-11 NCAC), as they lost to the Bishops (10-11, 6-6 NCAC) by a similar score earlier this year, 69-64, when their late game-tying 3-pointer didn't go down.

This game was even more competitive, with 14 lead changes and eight ties, although at one point it appeared Ohio Wesleyan might pull away. The hosts led by as much as nine (35-26) late in the first half, but Wooster went on a 10-0 scoring run that culminated in a Sydney Grier 3-pointer to take a 36-35 lead, and then went into the break ahead 40-38.

Lauren Hancher scored the Scots' first nine points of the second half, as part of her game-high 20-point effort, but it wasn't enough to shake Ohio Wesleyan, as it continued to answer back in what became a back-and-forth affair.

Wooster took four-point leads on two occasions, with its last one coming on a Hannah Kiser basket that made it 60-56. Over the next eight minutes, the Bishops slowly turned the tables, eventually going up 69-64 with two minutes left in the game.

Just then, a steal by Hancher led to a clutch 3-pointer from Grier, which pulled the Scots within two (69-67). Next, Wooster's defense forced Ohio Wesleyan into a missed shot, and then corralled the rebound, giving it possession with 35 seconds to go. Coming out of a timeout, the Scots had a chance to knot the score with their next shot attempt, but it missed its target, giving the Bishops another narrow victory.

Overall, Wooster was much more balanced than it has been in recent games. Hancher led the way with 20 points, adding seven rebounds, while Grier sunk three 3-pointers on her way to 13 points, and Sydney Failing chipped in nine points, including 5-for-5 at the free throw line.

The production continued down the line, as Kiser scored the second-most points of her young career (7), while Rachel Collins also added seven tallies to go along with a career-high nine boards.

Wooster's 44.8 percent shooting from the field (26-of-58) was its second-highest mark of the season.

Emily Julius gave Ohio Wesleyan a boost with a double-double of 14 and 10.

Next, the Scots will celebrate "Senior Day" when they host Denison University (10-10, 6-5 NCAC) on Saturday.