Second Half Effort Not Enough for Youthful Scots

HIRAM – The College of Wooster women's basketball team outscored Hiram 28-18 in the second half, but a slow start hurt Wooster in a 53-45 loss on Wednesday.

For the fourth time this season, first-year Shalen Guilliams scored a new career high with 24 points on 8-of-20 shooting and a 5-of-11 mark from 3-point range. Guiliams followed up a 22-point performance from her last time out, averaging 23 points across the last two games.

Namara Rwakatare followed with eight points. Mia Walker scored six, Alyssa Chritz scored four and Paige Wells connected on a 3-pointer to round out scoring.

Hiram was led by a 15-point performance from Haley Thompson.

Wells gave Wooster the early lead, and a Chritz layup made it 5-1. However, Hiram would score nine straight and used that run to never trail again.

Hiram increased its lead in the second quarter and led 35-17 at halftime.

Wooster came out rejuvenated in the second half to win the third quarter 16-11 and the fourth quarter 12-7. Guilliams scored 15 of her points in the second half and 11 in the fourth quarter.

Wooster cut the lead to single digits with just under five minutes remaining in the game at 51-42. However, neither team could not get much offense going for the remainder of the game.

Wooster finished shooting 27 percent (16-of-60) from the floor. Hiram countered by shooting 37 percent (19-of-52).

Both teams made about one of every four 3-point attempts as Wooster shot 25 percent (6-of-24) and Hiram 27 percent (4-of-15).

Hiram outrebounded Wooster 37-30 and scored 25 points off 20 Wooster turnovers. Wooster played with a short bench as its reserves were outscored 29-0. Wooster also scored 18 points in the paint and had 12 points off turnovers.

Hiram collects their first NCAC win to move to 7-8 overall and 1-3 in conference play.

Wooster moves to 1-15 overall and 0-5 in the NCAC. The Scots host Denison University on Saturday.