Scots Dig Deep Defensively, Unable to Overcome First-Quarter Deficit Against Marietta

Wooster, Ohio – Through the final three periods, The College of Wooster women's basketball fought on through an even-keeled contest with good ball control and team defense, but an 11-point first quarter deficit proved too much as the Fighting Scots ultimately fell 69-52 to Marietta College on Tuesday afternoon.

With a career-high 16 points, junior Aki Shurelds highlighted a Wooster (1-3) offense that shot over 30 percent from 3-point range on the day. The guard finished 6-for-15 from the field, with four coming from beyond the arc, in addition to two rebounds and two steals in 18 minutes of play.

Strong shooting from the Marietta (3-1) lent the Pioneers a 25-14 lead going into the second period as the Scots attempted to battle back from the 11-point shortfall. Sophomore forward Christina Vukovich, coming off a career-high 14 points in last week's season-opener at Geneva College, got Wooster back within nine with a putback off her own rebound at the 9:23 mark.

Marietta managed to stretch the lead to 14 with 6:04 left in the half after a pull-up 3-pointer in transition from Jordanna Rauch. The Pioneers eventually took a 36-23 advantage going into the halftime break.

Vukovich finished the first half with four blocks and three steals, while Shurelds and sophomore guard Anna Gibbs led the Scots with six points each.

Wooster continued its high defensive pressure throughout the second half, as the Scots forced 10 turnovers while committing just two of their own during the last 20 minutes of play.

After an offensive rebound from first-year Aubri McKoy just over four minutes into the third period, Gibbs darted a cross-court pass to Shurelds, who buried one from deep to cut the lead 18. 

The Scots continued to chip away throughout the third, as junior forward Katie Mandych stroked one from beyond the arc to maintain the scoreline before a last-second 3-pointer from Gibbs cut the lead to 56-41 going into the fourth period.

At the 9:13 mark, senior forward Natalie Coschigano dished out an outlet pass to Shurelds in transition, who converted in the paint to cut the lead to 13, but the Pioneers would ultimately hold on for their third-consecutive win. 

Vukovich notched a career night on the defensive end, as the sophomore finished with a career-high five steals while tying her previous career-best in blocks with five.

Gibbs finished with 11 points, while Mandych tied her career-high in points with seven on 3-of-6 shooting. Senior Sydney Failing ended the night with three rebounds and a career-high four assists, and Coschigano tallied a career-best three steals.

The Scots kickoff North Coast Athletic Conference action on Wednesday, Nov. 30, at Oberlin College (1-1) at 7:30 p.m.