Matt Olszewski
Sports Editor
The Wooster women’s basketball team has not had the season they expected to have, but continue to grow as a team and make huge steps in the right direction. The team started off with a 3-1 record, but has since fallen. They started off their season with a loss to Kenyon, but followed up with three straight wins. Two of those wins came in the 2018 Nan Nichols Classic, and after that they proceeded to beat Penn State Behrend in a close game by a score of 68-62.
Since then it has been an up and down season for Wooster, with some losses and a few strong wins. Their best win came in an away game at Oberlin College on Jan. 9. The Scots took advantage of points off turnovers and solid performances by players coming off the bench. The Scots were tied with Oberlin at 14 a side after one quarter. After that, they outscored Oberlin in each quarter. Kyle Croxton ’19 led in points, and Anna Gibbs ’19 had the most assists in the game. Maria Janasko ’19, when asked about what has been the highlight of the season so far, talked about this game. “We really played together as a team, and had loads of energy,” Janasko said.
Aubri McKoy ’20 also stated that her favorite highlight of the season was beating Oberlin. “That game was special in a way that words can’t accurately describe. It wasn’t the win in and of itself that was so special — it was the way that we came together from the moment we touched the floor for shoot-around that morning, to the time we got on the bus, and through all four quarters. There was an energy that had been waiting to be revealed and that night we surely delivered it,” said McKoy. It was Wooster’s first win over Oberlin since 2015.
During winter break, the team had several games in which they noticed some important developments. Janasko attested to the team’s ability to notice what to change in order to get better. “I think every game that we play, we make improvements. We always take what we did really well and just keep continuing to do it even better. Then we take what we need to work on and try to tweak it so that it really pushes us over the edge to get that win,” she said. Gibbs then talked about how they are getting closer and closer to being the program they want to be and how winter break helped them focus on the sport they love. “We were all able to focus on basketball for winter break, and I think that’s when we were able to recognize how close we are to turning this whole program around. We were able to see how high of a level we can compete at. Being tied with DePauw — a nationally ranked team and number one in our conference — at the end of the first quarter definitely gave us some fire to put all four quarters together,” said Gibbs.
Although the team does not have as many wins as they would hope to have, the team has been changing throughout the course of the season — and sometimes it is not just about the wins. Janasko talked about the changes she has noticed over the course of the season so far. “The team has changed dramatically throughout the season. I feel as though we have become more confident in our abilities as a team. We know we have all the pieces and parts to be a winning basketball team. We just have to remember to stay focused as a team during the games and to always play together,” said Janasko. Gibbs also added her thoughts on how the team has changed throughout the season. “On the court, we are able to capitalize on each other’s strengths, creating more team chemistry. We have grown tremendously compared to last season and our growth within the season has only been improving,” she said.
McKoy summed up the season with a great outlook. “I would describe this season as an uphill battle. It hasn’t always been pretty, fun or exhilarating, but some of the views have been great. One thing I appreciate about this team is that we emphasize the journey as much as we do the results. The journey has been one to remember,” she said. Gibbs added onto this and described how her team has not been one to take for granted. “We are at the tipping point. This season is the best group of girls the Wooster women’s basketball team has seen in a while — both in talent and, more importantly, heart. This team is not one to underestimate. We are so close to being a very successful basketball team,” said Gibbs.
The Wooster women’s basketball team looks to finish the season strong and pick up some solid NCAC wins. The Scots will take on Kenyon College at Timken Gymnasium on Jan. 30.
(Photo from Wooster Athletics)