MEADVILLE, Pa.—A pair of late College of Wooster free-throws with the game tied at 60 proved to be the deciding factor as the Allegheny College women's basketball team fell 62-60 in North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) action at home Wednesday (Jan. 10).
The close game featured six lead changes and five ties.
Delaney Arbore led the Gators out of the gate, scoring the team's first 11 points on a perfect four-of-four from the floor. She also converted two traditional three point plays. After a
Rylee Donovan three made it 14-2, the Fighting Scots called a timeout.
Following the timeout, Wooster started to comeback, bringing the game to 20-17 with 1:19 to go in the quarter. Each team scored in the closing minute as Allegheny took a 22-19 lead into the second.
The Fight Scots took the lead early in the second as they started on a 7-3 run to take a 26-25 lead. After a Gator timeout trailing 28-25 midway through the quarter, the Fighting Scots grew their lead to nine, 34-25. The Gators cut the lead down to four, 36-32, off an Arbore three but a late three by Wooster gave them a 39-32 halftime lead.
Arbore led the Gators with 22 points in the first half. She hit seven-of-11 shots from the field, including three-of-six from three and five-of-six from the free throw line. Donovan and
Madison Caufield had four points apiece.
The Gators opened the third on a 7-3 run to cut the Wooster lead to three. Wooster increased their lead up to seven but the Gators kept at it, narrowing the gap. The end of the quarter belonged to the Gators as they finished on a 6-0 run. After jumpers from
Brooke Smith and
Zoe Soilis brought the game within one point, Arbore hit a jumper in the closing seconds to give the Gators a 50-49 lead heading into the fourth.
The Fighting Scots opened the fourth with a three to give them the lead once again. After Caufield tied the game,
Julianna Skowron and Donovan hit back-to-back baskets to give the Gators a four point lead.
The pace slowed down as Wooster scored the next four points over a three minute stretch to tie the game for the third time, at 56-56. The teams continued to answer each other's baskets as they entered the final 45 seconds tied at 60.
With 18 seconds to play, the Gators drew a charge on a made shot to keep the game tied and give them possession. The Gators next shot hit off the rim with 2.9 seconds on the clock. However, they were called for a foul on the rebound, sending the Fighting Scots to the line for a pair of free-throws.
Anna Gibbs converted the two attempts to give Wooster a 62-60 lead.
The Gators called a full timeout to advance the ball to midcourt for the in-bounds pass. They were able to get a tough shot off from the corner but it was off the mark as the Fighting Scots picked up the conference win.
Arbore finished the game with 26 points, three assists and a pair of rebounds. Donovan was also in double figures with 11 points to go alongside a team-high nine rebounds, two assists, two steals and two blocks. Caufield collected seven rebounds to go with four points and a pair of steals.
Kaylah Pinkney had six points, four rebounds and three blocks.
For the game, the Gators shot 35.5% (23-of-63) from the floor. They forced 18 Wooster turnovers which turned into 19 points off of them.
Kylie Orr led Wooster with 15 points while Akwia Tilton added 12.
The Gators are back in action Saturday (Jan. 13) as they play host to Ohio Wesleyan University in NCAC play.
