Scots Claim First NCAC Win on Road Against Oberlin 55-44

OBERLIN, Ohio – The College of Wooster women's basketball team traveled to Oberlin College on Wednesday and put together a complete four quarters as they knocked off the Yeowomen 55-44 for their first North Coast Athletic Conference win of the season.

Senior Kyle Croxton led all scorers with 18 points and put together an 11-point fourth quarter that secured the win for Scots. She shot 5-of-8 from the floor and 3-of-4 from deep to go along with a 5-of-6 clip from the foul line.

Croxton put the Scots ahead by 12 twice early in the fourth quarter, once on a layup and again on a 3-pointer with 8:12 remaining. Later in the quarter, she freed herself with a crossover and hit a tough layup to put the Scots up 47-37 with under five minutes remaining.

Her final highlight was a 3-pointer as time expired on the shot clock to give Wooster a 51-39 edge with 1:21 remaining. Croxton finished the fourth quarter perfect, shooting 4-of-4 from the floor and 2-of-2 from range.

Senior Anna Gibbs hit five free throws down the stretch and finished with 10 points and eight assists. Maria Janasko added nine points, and Sarah Rapacz scored seven.

Aside from an even first quarter, Wooster held the advantage throughout the rest of the game. They limited Oberlin to six points in the second quarter and seven in the third. 

The Yeowomen opened the game with a 6-0 run, but back-to-back 3-pointers from Gibbs and Croxton tied the game at six. Janasko scored a pair of buckets inside, and Cat Fiorito scored on a second chance opportunity as the two teams ended the first quarter tied at 14.

In the second quarter, Sarah Marion capitalized on an open 3-pointer from atop the key to put Wooster ahead 23-18. With 37 seconds left in the first half, Aubri McKoy hit a jumper from the baseline to give Wooster a 25-20 lead at halftime.

Rapacz scored the first five second half points for the Scots including a finish of an and-1 opportunity. Wooster later led by nine and capped the quarter with another and-1 finish, this time from Janasko. Wooster took a 37-27 lead heading into the fourth before Croxton scored 11 of the team's 18 fourth quarter points to put the game away. 

Wooster shot 37 percent (19-for-52) from the court, 36 percent (5-for-14) from deep and 55 percent (12-for-22) from the line. Oberlin shot just 28 percent (17-for-60) and hit just one 3-pointer (1-for-13). Olivia Canning led the Yeowomen with a 16-point, 11-rebound double-double.

Oberlin held the advantage on rebounds, 42-39, points in the paint, 26-22, and second chance points, 10-2. However, the Scots scored more points off turnovers, 16-8, and had two fewer turnovers, 18-16. The bench also outscored Oberlin's 14-8.

This was Wooster's first win over Oberlin since 2015. The win puts them at 5-10 overall and 1-5 in the NCAC, while Oberlin drops to 7-7 overall and 3-3 in conference play.

Wooster will return to action 2 p.m. Saturday when they travel to Wittenberg University.