Lindy Howard

WOOSTER, Ohio – Danielle Besancon was the sparkplug during an exciting 8-0 scoring run that drew The College of Wooster within one with about a minute remaining in regulation, but Denison University withstood the Fighting Scots' surge to come away with a narrow 65-61 victory on Saturday in a highly-competitive North Coast Athletic Conference tilt at Timken Gymnasium.

This didn't look like the same Wooster team (1-20, 0-12 NCAC) that lost to the Big Red (11-11, 7-6 NCAC) by 35 points earlier this season. It was a one-possession game for nearly the entire first half, resulting in a tie (31-31) at the break, and the score was still knotted (37-37) a few minutes into the second stanza.

Over the next 10 minutes, Denison did everything it could to pull away, as it built double-digit leads on three occasions, only to see Wooster answer back to keep things interesting.

With 4:02 to go, Jordan Holmes scored on a lay-in that gave the Big Red a seemingly comfortable nine-point lead (62-53), but then Wooster went on the attack.

First, Besancon drove to the basket for a lay-up that pulled the Scots within seven (62-55). Then, Wooster locked in on defense, as it forced Denison into a missed shot on one possession, and a team turnover on the next, to keep it a seven-point game.

The Scots' next trip down the court resulted in a backdoor lay-up, as Lauren Hancher delivered a bounce pass to Rachel Collins, who snuck past her defender on the baseline, and then sunk the basket to make it 62-57.

Denison needed to attempt an in-bounds play around midcourt during its next possession, but Hancher stole the pass and drove it home for an easy bucket to cut Wooster's deficit to three at 62-59. Just seconds later, Besancon came up with a steal, and then worked a give-and-go with Hancher, as the former received the ball back from the latter to complete a fast-break lay-up that brought the Scots all the way back within one (62-61) with 1:22 on the clock.

Wooster was unable to complete the comeback, as Denison scored on its next possession, and made some free throws down the stretch, but it was an impressive effort from the Scots against one of their biggest nemesis in the conference.

Besancon, making just her second career start, totaled a career-high eight points, four rebounds, and two steals in a breakout performance. The scoring was remarkably balanced around her, with Hancher (12), Sydney Grier (10), Collins (9), Sydney Failing (8), Aki Shurelds (6), and Lindy Howard (5) all making an impact.

Hancher added seven steals, as part of Wooster's season-high 15 steals. Also noteworthy, Howard, who was honored for "Senior Day" before the game, made her first career start and chipped in five rebounds and two steals, as she celebrated her send-off in style.

Denison's 6-1 post Holmes nearly recorded a triple-double with 10 points, nine rebounds, and eight blocks. Kellie Arter poured in a game-high 25 points, including five 3-pointers.

Wooster's last home game of the season is next Wednesday, when it welcomes Hiram College (6-16, 2-11 NCAC) for a 6 p.m. start.