Maria Janasko

GRANVILLE, Ohio – The College of Wooster women's basketball team held a 17-16 lead after one quarter of play at Denison University, but the Big Red came back for a 62-51 win in North Coast Athletic Conference play on Wednesday.

Denison's Alison Schafer guided the Big Red, scoring 14 of her game high 18 points in the first half. Wooster's Maria Janasko had an eight-point first quarter, which led to a team-high 16 points and nine rebounds.

The teams traded leads multiple times in the first quarter until Denison broke a 9-9 tie with a 5-0 run. However, Wooster responded with an 8-2 run to end the quarter, highlighted by back-to-back 3-pointers from Sarah Marion and Kylie Orr.

Wooster lost the lead for good with Denison's first possession of the second quarter, a 3-pointer from Zyah Beal. Wooster senior Akwia Tilton sunk a 3-pointer to tie it again at 22-22, but Denison answered with their own back-to-back 3-pointers. That started an 8-0 run for the Big Red as they led 37-28 at the half.

Denison increased their lead by five in the third quarter and led by as many as 15 in the fourth.

Orr and Aubri McKoy each added nine points for the Scots, and Tilton tallied eight points and six assists.

Both teams shot 36 percent from the field and 39 percent from the 3-point mark. However, Denison took 13 more shots in the game. 

Wooster was 6-for-8 at the foul line while Denison was 4-for-6. Denison won the rebounding battle 40-33, but Wooster scored more points in the paint 22-16.

Denison improves to 13-5 overall and 7-2 in the NCAC. Wooster drops to 5-12 overall and 1-7 in conference play.

The Scots will travel to Hiram College on Saturday.