SPRINGFIELD – The new year did not start off great for The College of Wooster women's basketball team as they fell to Wittenberg University, 83-55, in North Coast Athletic Conference play on Saturday.

Two teams on opposite sides of the spectrum within the NCAC, the Scots showed they could play with the host Tigers in the first quarter. However, Wooster's downs were greater than their ups as they failed to achieve that first quarter success throughout the game.

The story early on was junior Ella Dean who led Wooster to a 22-17 lead after one. Dean was unconscious, getting open to score 12 points on 4 of 5 shooting from 3-point range.

For the game, Dean finished one shy of her career-high scoring 22 points on 7 of 15 shooting and a 5 of 8 mark from deep.

From the second quarter on, Wittenberg took charge. Wooster did not score in the first three minutes of the second, allowing Wittenberg to capture its second lead of the game at 23-22.

Dean halted that run with a 3-pointer, but Wittenberg won the quarter 22-10 and led 39-32 at halftime.

Wittenberg (10-3, 2-0 NCAC) had its best scoring run, 9-0, late in the third and its offense was at its best in the fourth, scoring 27 points in the quarter.

Wittenberg had three score in double figures, led by 16 points from Taryn Cash.

Wooster first-year Mackenzie Riccitelli added 11 points, and junior Chloe Pordash scored five off the bench.

The Scots shot 37 percent (18 of 49) from the floor, 40 percent (8 of 20) from range and 69 percent (11 of 16) from the foul line.

Wooster (2-10, 0-2 NCAC) hosts Heidelberg University on Monday in its final non-conference matchup of the season.