Scots Open NCAC Slate with 72-69 Victory Over Oberlin

Kelly Aughenbaugh scored seven points and gathered three steals in 21 minutes, helping Wooster improve to 5-1 over its last six NCAC openers.

WOOSTER, Ohio – The College of Wooster kicked off the 2007-08 North Coast Athletic Conference schedule in strong fashion on Wednesday evening, defeating Oberlin College 72-69, despite a late second-half comeback attempt by the Yeowomen. With the win, the Fighting Scots have won five of their last six conference openers and move their record to 2-3 overall on the year, while Oberlin slips to 1-4.

Trailing by two at halftime (32-30), the Scots and Yeowomen traded buckets over the first 5:28 of the second half, with Wooster possessing a slim 43-41 advantage. Over the next 4:11, Wooster rattled off a 16-2 run capped off by a three-point field goal by freshman Taylor Keegan and led 59-43 with 10:21 remaining. The visitors responded with an 18-4 spurt of their own and pulled to within two (63-61) with 4:33 left on a pair of free throws by Alyssa Clark, but were unable to tie the contest as Wooster matched Oberlin shot for shot down the stretch for the win. 

Oberlin jumped out of the gates quickly to open the game, holding a 15-6 lead with 13:47 showing on the game clock. The Scots responded with a 10-0 run over nearly a six-minute stretch, before the Yeowomen came right back on the heels of a 10-2 spurt and led 25-18. With a surge of momentum, Wooster reeled off eight consecutive points and owned a one-point edge (26-25), while the two sides traded buckets to close out the stanza.            

Wooster finished with four players in double figures and held a decided advantage in points from the bench (37-2), led by a career-high 14 points from Keegan including four triples. Meredith Wilson, Kym Wenz and Kaitlin Krister added 11, 10, and 10 respectively, while freshman Colleen Goodwillie ended her night with career-bests in points with nine and assists with seven. Wenz led the Wooster rebounding charge with nine boards, while freshman Hannah Kerkian-Winton grabbed seven caroms to go along with five points.  Additionally, sophomore Kelly Aughenbaugh cashed in seven points on 3-of-5 shooting and racked up three steals.

For Oberlin, Roneisha Kinney propelled the Yeowomen with game-highs of 24 points on 11-of-15 shooting and corralled 11 rebounds, while Clark wound up with 15 points, seven rebounds, and five assists. Alicia Smith finished with 14 points, while Liz Thompson chipped in with 11 points and seven rebounds.

Wooster hits the road for the first time this season on Saturday, Dec. 8, for a non-conference match up with Case Western Reserve University (4-3) at 2:00 p.m.