Youth on Display in Women’s Home Opener

The College of Wooster women's basketball team fought from 17-down to get within a point only to fall short to Carlow University 64-59 in its regular season and home opener on Friday.

Ace Sturdivant led the charge with a game-high 20 points, 16 of which came in the second half as she connected on all four of her 3-point attempts.

The sophomore was rather close to a triple-double as well with eight assists and seven rebounds.

First-year Mackenzie Riccitelli was all over the floor, recording a double-double in her first Fighting Scot game, scoring 13 points and grabbing 12 rebounds.

Junior Ella Biondi had a balanced game as well with eight points, 10 rebounds and four blocked shots. Fresh off her soccer season, classmate Erica Beaty put in good minutes off the bench recording six points and five rebounds.

First-years Emily Webb and Ellery Kloek each scored six points, joining Riccitelli as three first-years in the starting lineup.

Wooster saw some growing pains early, facing an 11-2 deficit. However, Wooster used one of their best runs of the game at 8-0 to cut the lead to one near the end of the first quarter.

Carlow (1-0) still led by nine at halftime, 30-21, as Wooster shot just 1-of-12 from 3-point range and was 4-of-10 from the foul line.

Both percentages hurt Wooster in the loss. By the end, they shot 27 percent (7-of-26) from range and just 40 percent (6-of-15) from the foul line.

Meanwhile, Carlow shot 43 percent (6-of-14) from deep and 74 percent (14-of-19) from the charity stripe.

Despite the difference in percentages, Wooster found themselves within striking distance late with a 22-15 fourth quarter.

Sturdivant scored eight straight points for Wooster to cut the lead to four with just under four minutes remaining. However, Carlow's Emma Aubrey hit a dagger from the corner to push the lead to seven with a minute remaining.

Beaty then earned some second chance points, while Sturdivant assisted to Biondi on a layup on the next two possessions.

Sturdivant would later hit a 3-pointer with 17 seconds remaining to bring the Scots to within one. After two made free-throws from Carlow, Wooster had a chance down three with 14 seconds left but found its attempt come up short.

It was head coach Olivia Besancon's first game leading the team, and it was the first day of Wooster's annual Nan Nichols Classic. In game one, Fredonia State University defeated Thiel College 89-69. Wooster will take on Thiel at 4 p.m. Saturday to wrap up the classic.