Tigers Stifle Wooster In 67-43 Victory

WOOSTER, Ohio — A 17-2 run to end the first half broke open a close game and propelled the short-handed Wittenberg women's basketball team to a 67-43 North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) victory.

The win moved the Tigers, who played without injured starters Sarah Watson (Hudson, Ohio/Hudson) and Amber Lara (Oak Park, Ill./River Forest), back over the .500 mark at 8-7 overall and 4-3 in the NCAC. Wooster lost for the 47th time in 52 all-time meetings with Wittenberg, dropping to 3-13 overall and 2-6 in the conference after winning their previous two games.

The Scots closed to within one point at the 8:29 mark of the first half, but a jumper by junior Kim Replogle (Houston, Ohio/Houston) two minutes later kickstarted the decisive half-ending burst. Sophomore Amber Rice (South Charleston, Ohio/Southeastern) scored nine points in what eventually became a 22-2 run, including the first five points of the second half.

The lead eventually reached 28 points in the late going as the Tigers emptied the bench, giving at least three minutes of playing time to 14 different players.

The key to the game was shooting as the Tigers finished above their season average at 42 percent, while Wooster managed a paltry 12-of-52 from the field (23 percent). Wittenberg won the rebounding battle by nine and committed four less turnovers in securing the win.

Individually, senior Lyndsey Clark (New Carlisle, Ohio/Tecumseh) led with 15 points, six rebounds and four assists, while freshman Enri Small (Columbus, Ohio/Columbus School For Girls) added 14 points, three rebounds and two assists. Replogle finished with 10 points and five rebounds, Rice chipped in with nine points and five boards off the bench, and junior Sarah Skidmore (Troy, Ohio/Miami East) contributed a season-best eight points on 4-of-4 shooting from the field.