Croxton Connects on Six 3-Pointers in Wooster's Loss at Allegheny

Sophomore Kyle Croxton connected on six 3-pointers, one shy of matching The College of Wooster women's basketball program's single-game record, but a big second-period push from host Allegheny College pulled the Gators past the Fighting Scots 88-72 at the David V. Wise Center in Meadville, Pa. on Wednesday evening.

Croxton really heated up towards the end of the contest with a trio of her 3-pointers coming in the final 3:50 of the fourth period. It marked the first time a Scot made six 3-pointers in a game since Kym Wenz did so against Ursuline on Dec. 12, 2009. Croxton, a mid-year transfer, went on to finish with a season-high 18 points in her first start as a Scot.

Senior Lauren Hancher had another big night for Wooster (5-12, 1-7 North Coast Athletic Conference), finishing with a game-high 26 points, the second-straight 20-point outing from the dual-sport standout. Of note, her layup with 7:04 remaining in the first period moved her past Wenz for fourth on the program's all-time field goal makes list.

Wooster had a strong start to the conference tilt, racing out to a 6-2 advantage just a shade over two minutes into the opening period. Hancher played a key role in the early going with four of the Scots' first six points. The lead would be short-lived as a 15-0 run from the Gators (9-8, 4-4 NCAC) pushed Allegheny ahead 21-8 with 3:26 left in the first period.

The Scots had a pair of runs at the end of the first period to move within striking distance. First Hancher had a 5-0 clip, and later, a 6-0 spurt highlighted by field goals from junior Natalie Coschigano and sophomore Aki Shurelds, cut Wooster's deficit down to five at 24-19.

Croxton pulled Wooster within two at 24-22 with her first trifecta of the contest to opening the scoring in the second period. Allegheny heated up as well from outside, sinking four 3-pointers, including a pair from Emily Smith, in the frame.

Croxton started out the third period in similar fashion with a 3-pointer. Other highlights of the stanza included two late 3-pointers from Shurelds, the first with 2:04 left in the frame, and the latter with just seven seconds remaining in the period.

Of note, Wooster won the rebounding battle by a 47-42 count, marking just the sixth time this season the Scots finished on the positive side on the glass. Leading the way were Coschigano, Hancher, and junior Rachel Collins who each had six rebounds on the night.

Delaney Arbore led Allegheny with 21 points, while Kaitlyn Fromknecht had a big night defensively with nine rebounds and eight blocked shots, becoming Allegheny's all-time and single-season blocks leader in the process.

Wooster closes out a stretch of five road games over a six-game span with Saturday's 3 p.m. tilt at DePauw University (12-5, 6-2 NCAC).