Fighting Scots Nab First Win Behind Wenz’s Career Day

Kym Wenz

WOOSTER, Ohio – Kym Wenz recorded her second career double-double and first this season, pouring in a career-high 26 points, including 17 in the second half, and tied a career-best with 10 rebounds, leading The College of Wooster past Lake Erie College 72-68 in non-conference action Sunday afternoon inside Timken Gymnasium. The victory improves Wooster to 1-2 on the season and moves the Scots to a perfect 10-0 in the all-time series against the Storm.

Jumping out of the gates early, the Fighting Scots held their largest lead of the game by an 18-10 count on a jumper from Priscilla Staples with 11:43 remaining in the first period. However, the Storm (1-3) responded by scoring nine of the next 13 points cutting the Wooster advantage to three (22-19) with 7:25 showing on the clock.

Wooster was able to keep Lake Erie at bay for the remainder of the opening half, as the two teams exchanged buckets over the final minutes of action. When the halftime buzzer sounded, the Scots took a 36-32 lead into the locker room.

Out of the intermission, junior Meredith Wilson connected on a three-point field goal on the second possession of the second half giving Wooster a 39-32 lead. Lake Erie quickly answered, tying the contest (46-46) thanks in part to a 14-7 run over the next 5:05. Riding an offensive momentum surge, Lake Erie reeled off a big 16-9 spurt and were owners of a 62-55 lead with exactly seven minutes left.

With Wooster looking for an offensive spark trailing by seven and just 6:12 left on the clock, Wenz took control racked up 12 of the Scots final 17 points, propelling Wooster to the thrilling come-from-behind victory. For the contest, she shot 8-of-12 (.667) from the field, including 2-of-3 from beyond the three-point line, and 8-of-10 (.800) from the charity stripe.

As a team, the Scots dominated nearly every facet of the game, going 23-of-46 from the field (.500), while shooting 7-of-18 from beyond the arc (.389) and nearly 83 percent (19-of-23) from the free throw line. In contrast, Lake Erie ended the contest connecting on just under 34 percent of its shots from the floor (27-of-80), shot a chilly 23.1 percent from three-point range (6-of-26), and 8-of-12 (.667) from the charity stripe.  The Scots also won the battle on the boards with a 41-37 advantage.

In addition to Wenz’s career-performance, the Scots were led by Kaitlin Krister, who had her second double-double in as many games, scoring 12 points, adding 10 rebounds, and tacked on two blocked shots. Wilson finished in double figures with 11 markers and collected seven boards, while Staples chipped in with seven points and four rebounds.

Lake Erie was paced by Angela Bethel’s 19 points, while Ashley Steele was the only other Lake Erie player in double figures with 16 points.

The Scots will be back in action Wednesday evening when they continue their season-opening homestand and square off with Westminster (Pa.) College (3-0) in a 7:30 battle.