Scots to Face W&J in Nan Nichols Tourney Final

Kristen Rice goes up for a layup during the Scots' first-round game with Wilberforce. Rice led Wooster with 20 points.

Box Score

WOOSTER, Ohio - Even without three-time all-conference honoree Nara DeJesus (Geneva, Ohio / Geneva), The College of Wooster women's basketball team was able to win its season-opening game for the third consecutive year, holding off Wilberforce University 76-72 on Saturday.

Wooster (1-0) advances to the championship game of its own Nan Nichols Classic, where it will play Washington & Jefferson College (1-0), winners over Daemen College 74-63 earlier in the day, on Sunday at approximately 3 p.m. That game precedes the consolation contest of the seventh annual event, which will pit NAIA foes Damen (3-1) and Wilberforce (3-3) against one another, starting at 1 p.m.

DeJesus, who is out indefinitely with a knee injury, had to watch from the bench, as the Scots were able to eke out the victory. The visiting Lady Bulldogs had a chance to tie it, down 74-72 with :19 left, but their shot would not fall and Wooster sealed it with a pair of free throws.

Although it was close at the end, the Scots had been out in front comfortably, including a 42-26 lead at the break. But, Wilberforce whittled away at, and even took the lead, 64-63 with 6:47 left, however, Wooster responded, going on a 10-2 run with six of those points coming from sophomore post player Alexis Louttit (Lodi, Ohio / West Holmes).

Louttit had a double-double on the day - 13 points and 12 rebounds - while senior forward Kristen Rice (Wooster, Ohio / Northwestern) poured in a squad-high 20 points. The Scots' other double-digit scorer was Natalie Barone (Akron, Ohio / St. Thomas Aquinas), who in her first career game went for 14 points.

Wilberforce was paced by Minika Davis, who knocked down three three-pointers during the second half rally en route to a game-high 23 points and she also grabbed nine caroms, and Darla Finley, who produced a double-double of 18 points and 13 rebounds despite being in foul trouble.

In Saturday's first of four games at Timken Gymnasium, Washington & Jefferson led from midway through the opening stanza on. In the second half, the Presidents led in double-digits the whole way.

Washington & Jefferson freshman Leigh Sulkowski had a terrific collegiate debut, canning 10-of-13 field goals, including 3-of-3 three-pointers, as well as four free throws for 27 points, while senior teammate Amy Strosnider contributed a 14-point, 10-rebound game.

For Daemen, Joanna Daugenti and Angela Tylec produced 15-point games in the setback.