Women Get Season Underway in Loss to Denison, 77-58

The College of Wooster women's basketball team saw their first action of the season Friday in a 77-58 loss to Denison University (1-4)

Denison, playing in their fifth game, took advantage of Wooster's miscues early and used an 18-4 first quarter to set the tone. After the first, Denison outscored Wooster (0-1) by just five points for the remainder of the game.

Each team had a player record a double-double. Mikaila Carpenter scored 16 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for Denison, while senior Maria Janasko led the Scots with 15 points and 11 rebounds.

Junior Krista English led the Scots off the bench with 10 points as the only other Wooster player to reach double figures.

A number of newcomers made their debut for the Scots, including Alyssa Chritz who totaled 26 minutes off the bench and finished with nine points, nine rebounds and five steals.

First-years Harley Holloway and Mary Neal had their first points as Fighting Scots, while sophomores Namara Rwakatare and Riley Thorr scored their first field goals.

Wooster's struggles in the first quarter were in part connecting on just 2-of-19 field goals. The Scots started to find some consistency midway through the second after Holloway connected with a 3-pointer as the two teams played even to halftime, 41-21.

Wooster's best quarter came in the third with a 20-18 outcome. Seven Scots scored in the quarter as Austrella Balley's four points led the squad. Janasko and Rwakatare each connected on and-1's, and Sarah Marion and Krista English each connected on 3-pointers.

Wooster then had its best run of the game at seven midway through the fourth, which cut the lead to 16.

Wooster shot 33 percent (23-of-69) to Denison's 45 percent (34-of-75). Wooster was also 5-of-23 (22 percent) from 3-point range and 7-of-9 (78 percent) from the charity stripe.

Denison held the slight 44-43 rebounding advantage.

The Scots travel to Denison tomorrow for a 4 p.m. contest. No spectators are allowed at the contest, but Denison will provide video and live stats.