SPRINGFIELD, Ohio – The second half ended much differently than it began for the Wittenberg women's basketball team, sending the Tigers to a 71-65 loss at the College of Wooster on Saturday.

The decision drops Wittenberg to 11-12 overall and 7-7 in the North Coast Athletic Conference, and into a fifth-place tie with Ohio Wesleyan, which moved to 7-7 with a 69-68 win over Hiram today in Delaware.

After concluding the first half against Wooster deadlocked at 32-32, the Tigers exploded into the second period with an opening nine-point run, built on six points from sophomore Amber Lara (Oak Park, Ill./River Forest) on both a three-point jumper and a three-point play after junior Amber Rice (South Charleston, Ohio/Southeastern) began the run with a three-pointer.

Wittenberg kept Wooster at arms' length until the Fighting Scots closed within one point with 4:23 remaining, proceeding to benefit from a Wittenberg turnover and then take the lead with 3:48 left.

Wittenberg responded to reclaim a 60-59 lead seconds later, but a Tiger foul initiated a run of made free throws that sealed the game for Wooster. Over the final 2:13, the Scots made six trips to the line and sank all 12 free throws.

Rice put together a banner performance despite the final result, scoring a career-high 24 points. Rice was the primary offensive engine, going 8-for-17 from the field and 5-of-11 from beyond the three-point line as well as 3-for-4 from the stripe.

Lara's six-point burst during the opening run of the second half formed the basis of a 13-point night for the guard, who finished 5-of-9 from the field, 2-for-2 from three-point range and 1-of-1 at the line.

Sophomore Enri Small (Columbus, Ohio/Columbus School for Girls) and freshman Taylore Bundy (Lewis Center, Ohio/Olentangy Orange) led the Tigers' rebounding efforts with nine and eight boards, respectively. Small added nine points to the mix, primarily on 5-of-8 free throw shooting.

As a team, Wittenberg held a 40-36 rebounding advantage over the Scots, but Wooster went 29-of-36 from the free throw line in the game to counter the margin.

The regular season concludes over the next week with two home contests, beginning against the nation's No. 1 team, DePauw, on Wednesday, Feb. 13, at 6 p.m., and finished versus Ohio Wesleyan at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 16.

John Strawn '07