Closing Stretch Pushes Oberlin Past Wooster

WOOSTER, Ohio - Sophomore Kyle Croxton made a nice layup with :41 remaining, but visiting Oberlin College answered right back with a go-ahead 3-pointer from Lindsey Bernhardt, and went on to sink three free throws down the stretch, to take a 54-49 North Coast Athletic Conference contest over The College of Wooster women's basketball team on Wednesday evening at the Timken Gymnasium in Wooster, Ohio.

Senior Lauren Hancher had an early jumper to knot the contest at eight in the first period. The points pushed the dual-sport standout past head coach Lisa Panepento for fourth on the program's all-time scoring list. Of note, the senior climbed to fifth in program history in the first meeting with Oberlin (8-7, 2-4 NCAC) this season.

Wooster (5-10, 1-5 NCAC) first-year Anna Gibbs jump-started the Fighting Scots' defense from the game's onset, coming away with a steal, and finishing the fast-break layup, within the first 22 seconds of the game. The Scots defense went on to cause 14 more turnovers in the first half.

Hancher's jumper with 5:14 remaining in the first, sparked an 8-0 Wooster run. Highlighting the spurt was sophomore Katie Mandych, who had two rebounds prior to a nice jumper.

Oberlin answered with a 6-0 clip, before a late layup from Gibbs put Wooster up 16-14 at the end of the first stanza.

The Scots had success inside at the onset of the second period, with impressive lay-ins first from Mandych, and later by junior Natalie Coschigano. Coschigano's layup, pushed Wooster's lead to seven at 21-14 with 6:25 left in the half.

Wooster's inside success continued when a layup from Mandych pushed Wooster's lead to a game-high nine points at 25-16. The sophomore added a jumper with 2:10 remaining in the half, extending the lead back to nine at 27-18.

Oberlin cut Wooster's lead to three four times in the third period, but the Scots had an answer each time, with Hancher connecting on the counter on three of the answer-backs. The Yeowomen strung together an 8-2 clip down the stretch, led by four points in the paint from Tyler Parlor to claim their first lead since the opening minutes of the contest.

Oberlin opened up a seven-point advantage in the fourth period at 46-39. Wooster quickly answered back with a 6-0 burst with layups from Hancher and junior Sydney Failing, and a pair of free throws from sophomore Aki Shurelds.

Moments later Hancher tied the contest at 47 with 3:51 remaining in the tilt. Wooster was able to take advantage of Oberlin's miscues at the free throw line as the Yeowomen split a pair of tries twice, the second enabling Croxton to put Wooster on top at 49-48 with :41 remaining.

Hancher led Wooster offensively with a game-high 16 points. Mandych also had a big day for the Scots with six points, one shy of matching her career-high.

Oberlin was led by Olivia Canning's double-double (12 rebounds, 11 points).

Wooster, in the midst of a stretch that includes five road games in a six-game span, travels to Gambier, Ohio for a 2 p.m. tilt at Kenyon College (9-6, 3-3 NCAC) on Saturday.