WOOSTER, Ohio— The Allegheny College women's basketball team's comeback against the College of Wooster fell short as the Gators dropped the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) road contest 66-53 Wednesday (Feb. 7).
The Fighting Scots got out to a quick start in the opening quarter, scoring the game's first 13 points. After the initial run, Wooster outscored the Gators just 7-6 in the frame as they took a 20-6 lead into the second.
The lead grew to 18 midway through the second quarter. In the closing minutes, the Gators took advantage of opportunities at the free-throw line to narrow the gap to 35-23 at halftime.
Julianna Skowron led the Gator offense with eight points for the half with five rebounds.
Maia Joiner exceled at the free-throw line, going seven-of-eight. For the half, the Gators combined to go 13-of-14 from the free-throw line.
A jumper by
Rylee Donovan, followed by a
Delaney Arbore three brought the Fight Scots lead down to seven points to open the third. Minutes later, a
Brooke Smith layup brought the lead down to six, 38-32. The Fighting Scots regained their footing as the lead grew back to 10, but baskets by Arbore and Donovan brought the lead down to five, 42-37. However, Wooster closed the quarter on a 6-2 run to take a 48-39 lead into the fourth.
Early in the fourth, the Fighting Scots lead grew to 12.
Zoe Soilis and Skowron hit back-to-back shots to bring the lead down to eight. The teams continued the go back-and-forth on scoring, but the Gators were unable to bring the Wooster lead below seven as they fell 66-53.
Skowron finished the game with a 10 point, 10 rebound double-double. Arbore also scored in double digits with 10 points to go with three assists. Joiner was the third Gator scoring in double digits, also with 10. Of the 10 points, eight came from the free-throw line as she missed just one of those opportunities.
Madison Caufield netted eight points to go with six rebounds while Donovan had seven points, four rebounds, three steals and three assists.
The Gators were near perfect from the free-throw line, with just one miss on 17 attempts.
Anna Gibbs led Wooster with 21 points and seven rebounds. Kylie Orr scored 15 points while Aki Shurelds had 14.
The Gators remain on the road Saturday (Feb. 10) as they battle Denison University in NCAC action.
