Trio stands out in 91-85 loss to Hiram

WOOSTER, Ohio – Seniors Anna Gibbs, Kyle Croxton and sophomore Maria Janasko contributed over 70 percent of The College of Wooster women's basketball team's scoring in a 91-85 loss to Hiram College on Sunday.

Croxton led all scorers and tied a career-high with 25 points. Janasko totaled a double-double with 10 rebounds and set a new career-high in points with 19. Gibbs scored 16 points and dished out a team-high five assists.

Tashauna Wright led Hiram with 21 points, seven rebounds and six assists. Three others scored in double figures for the Terriers – Madison Branch (17), Josie Earnhardt (16) and Alainna Conroy (14).

Early on, Wooster turned an 8-7 deficit into a 15-8 lead after an 8-0 run. They led by as many as eight at 22-14 with 1:06 left in the quarter. Hiram cut the deficit to three by the end of the quarter at 23-20.

Hiram kept the momentum into the second quarter, scoring the first four points to take the lead and built it to as many as 10 with under a minute remaining in the half. By halftime, they led 47-38.

Three times in the third quarter a Janasko score cut the lead to one, but Wooster could never retake the lead. A late 3-pointer from Hiram's Josie Earnhardt gave the Terriers at 68-64 lead after three quarters.

Hiram scored the first four points of the fourth before Gibbs connected on a 3-pointer to bring the lead back to five. That began an 8-2 run as a layup from Cat Fiorito and a 3-pointer from Croxton made it 74-72 with 5:52 remaining.

However, Hiram countered with a 10-2 run and led by 10 with 1:07 to play.

The win moved Hiram to 9-9 overall and 3-6 in the North Coast Athletic Conference, while Wooster fell to 5-13 overall and 1-8 in conference play.

The 85 points was Wooster's second highest total of the season. The Scots shot 45 percent (29-for-64) from the floor, 48 percent (11-for-23) from range and 64 percent (16-for-25) from the foul line.

Hiram shot 51 percent (34-for-67) for the game, 31 percent (5-for-16) from deep and 82 percent (18-for-22) from the free throw line.

The Terriers outrebounded the Scots 42-28 and outscored the Scots in the paint 40-32. Both teams scored 11 points off second chance opportunities, and Wooster's bench outscored Hiram's 36-29.

Sarah Marion added nine points for Wooster, and Aubri McKoy finished with six points and seven rebounds.

Wooster returns to action Wednesday when they travel to Allegheny College. Allegheny won the prior meeting back in December 79-69.