Scots, Besancon Earn First Victory in Nan Nichols Finale 

The College of Wooster women's basketball team collected its first win under head coach Olivia Besancon on Saturday, defeating Thiel College 79-70 in the finale of the Nan Nichols Classic.

Sophomore Ace Sturdivant paved the way with a career-high 29 points, shooting 8-of-15 from the floor and 5-of-8 from 3-point range. She also added seven rebounds and four assists.

First-year Mackenzie Riccitelli also put up career numbers in her short two-game career span. She tallied 23 points on 9-of-16 shooting and added nine rebounds and four assists.

Junior Ella Biondi also played a factor, tallying her first double-double of the year with 18 points and 13 rebounds. She also blocked three shots.

Off the bench, junior Erica Beaty pulled down five rebounds and had the best plus-minus in the game at 19.

Thiel was led by a 19-point, 10-rebound performance from Kelsey Seddon.

After a poor shooting night on Friday, Wooster turned it around in a big way, shooting 48 percent (27-of-56) from the floor, 43 percent (6-of-14) from range and 83 percent (19-of-23) from the foul line. 

Thiel (0-2) led by at most three points in the first quarter before Wooster (1-1) took control of the game, leading by as many as 13 points late in the third.

Thiel made it interesting to start the fourth as they embarked on a 9-0 run to cut Wooster's lead to four at 58-54. It got down to three, but Wooster then connected on back-to-back trips on layups from Ellery Kloek and Riccitelli.

Sturdivant had a big 3-pointer that was quickly answered, and Wooster led 71-67 with 2:50 remaining. Fortunately, Wooster's free-throw game was on point, going 7-for-8 in that final stretch and 12-of-14 for the quarter.

Wooster outrebounded Thiel 46-39. Turnovers were a bit on the high end for Wooster with 19, but they did capitalize with 18 points on 12 Thiel turnovers.

Sturdivant and Riccitelli earned All-Tournament Team honors. Between the two games, Sturdivant averaged 24.5 points, seven rebounds, six assists and one steal. Riccitelli averaged 18 points, 10.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and one steal.

Biondi fell just shy of making the team but still had a solid weekend, averaging 13 points, 11.5 rebounds and 3.5 blocks.

Fredonia State University defeated Carlow University in overtime, 76-72, in game one on Saturday.

The Scots hit the road next as they travel to Franciscan University of Steubenville on Wednesday.

All-Tournament Team

MVP: Payton Gilbert – Fredonia

Grace Alexander – Fredonia

Ace Sturdivant – Wooster

Mackenzie Riccitelli – Wooster

Kelsey Seddon – Thiel

Sydney Carr - Carlow