SPRINGFIELD – After a 14-0 start, The College of Wooster women's basketball team were in a prime position to sweep the season series against Wittenberg University on Saturday, but the Scots couldn't contain its momentum in a 64-53 loss.
Wooster could not be stopped for the opening minutes of the game, scoring 14 straight and not allowing a Wittenberg field goal until the 4:25 mark.
In that span, senior
Ella Biondi and first-year
Pink Sturdivant each scored four of the first eight points, while sophomore
Mackenzie Riccitelli capped the run with back-to-back 3-point scores.
From there, Wittenberg slowly inched its way back, cutting Wooster's lead to seven by the end of the quarter and to just two by the end of the first half.
Wittenberg took its first lead early in the third, but Wooster responded with buckets from Biondi and
Ace Sturdivant. Yet, Wittenberg kept coming as a quick 8-1 run gave the Tigers the lead again, which they would never lose again.
Wooster was within three points at 52-49 with just over four minutes remaining until Wittenberg embarked on its best run of the game, 10-0, to give them the series split with the Scots in North Coast Athletic Conference play.
Biondi, who was near a double-double in the first half alone, finished with a team-high 18 points and 15 rebounds. Riccitelli and
Ace Sturdivant each finished with nine points.
Wittenberg's Molly Mossing also finished with a double-double at 20 points and 14 rebounds.
Wooster struggled from the floor, shooting just under 30 percent (16-54) and just over 20 percent from range (3-14). They shot 72 percent (18-25) from the foul line.
Wittenberg (10-9, 3-5 NCAC) shot 40 percent (25-63) from the floor and connected on six of their 19 3-point attempts (32 percent).
Wooster won the rebounding battle by one, 36-35, but Wittenberg capitalized with 14 points off 14 Wooster turnovers.
Wooster (9-10, 1-7 NCAC) will need to get back on track Wednesday when they host Oberlin College in a crucial NCAC matchup. Oberlin took the first matchup 58-48.
