Ashley Ferguson
Contributing Writer
Winter is coming, and The College of Wooster’s women’s basketball team is preparing diligently for it. With four games already under their belt this season, the team is looking to maximize its strengths of speed and aggressive athleticism while working to clean up their technique and strategy.
The Fighting Scots had great success in their first game against Geneva College on Nov. 16. A 75-67 win highlighted the team’s overall team leadership. Christina Vukovich ’19 and Aubri McKoy ’20 took that to heart, as the pair each notched 14 points for the Scots. After a closely contested first quarter, Wooster took the lead 28-26 with 8:30 remaining in the first half and held on for the win.
At the 21st Annual Nan Nichols Classic, held at home, Wooster fell to Berea College’s strong start, scoring 19 points to Berea’s 29 points in the first quarter. Afterward, the Scots battled closely with the Mountaineers, with each team scoring 12 points apiece in the third quarter. Anna Gibbs ’19 added great depth to this effort, scoring 18 points while hitting both of her three-point attempts. The Mountaineers roared back with aggressive defensive play especially in the last 10 minutes to secure the 77-56 win against the Scots.
In the second game of the Nan Nichols Classic, Wooster suffered a loss to Albion College with a final score of 84-51. The Scots worked up from single-digit scoring in the first quarter to battle the Britons, but a period of unfruitful offense opened the floodgates for Albion. Of note was a 6-0 mini run sparked by Gibbs, who closed the gap to six points after a three-pointer assisted by Cat Firito ’20.
On the Tuesday before Thanksgiving break, the Scots played aggressively against Marietta College at home. Aki Shurelds ’18 managed a career-high 16 points, the highest individual score of the afternoon. Wooster boasted an offense shooting over 30 percent from the 3-point mark throughout the game. Despite solid action throughout, Marietta’s 11-point lead in the first quarter outshone Wooster’s overall performance, and the Scots lost by a final score of 69-52.
“One of our team goals this season is to take complete ownership of our program and assume total responsibility for our successes or lack thereof,” said head coach Lisa Panepento. The team shares several key phrases to keep them focused on the season’s team goals. Their motto this season is “We over Me,” a mantra they repeat daily.
“That means our team success is far more important than any individual success,” Panepento said. “Rather than identifying captains by title, we have asked players to assume ‘Shared Leadership’ which means that anyone and everyone can help lead us in the right direction. It doesn’t always have to be the same people, and behaviors aren’t determined as much by the ‘title’ of captain as they are by a desire to be a positive leader, which we feel many people can do.” The players also work on “Total Ownership,” which creates a network of accountability among team members.
Wooster will look to continue this team effort to secure a win at Hiram’s court next week. The Fighting Scots tip off against Case Western Reserve University Dec. 3 at 2 p.m. in Timken Gymnasium.