Wooster, Ohio - The Alma College women's basketball team suffered its first loss of the 2015-16 season against the College of Wooster in the Nan Nichols Classic. Alma had the largest lead of the game at 10 but Wooster came back to take the game 77-76. Freshman Kelsey Wolffis (Muskegon, Mich./Mona Shores) led scored team-high 17, a career best as well as led with six rebounds.

The College of Wooster controlled the majority of the first quarter as Alma had the 6-4 lead for only a few seconds after a made lay up by Wolffis. Wooster went in to the second quarter with their largest lead of the game, 23-16.

The second quarter was promising for the Scots as they out scored Wooster 25-15 going in to the half with the 41-38 lead. A 10-0 run in the start of the third quarter pushed the Scots to their highest momentum with the 50-40 lead. It was a game of runs as Wooster went on a run of their own and Anna Gibbs cut the lead 59-56 with a made jumper in the last 0:03 seconds.

A made lay up with 6:44 left in the fourth by junior Erica Hansen (Mt.Pleasant, Mich./Sacred Heart) pushed Alma to the 67-61 lead. Unfortunately the College of Wooster went on one final run and in a final attempt in the winding down seconds the Scots fell to Wooster 77-76. 

Junior Tara Padgett (Freeland, Mich./Freeland) chipped in the next team highest with 13 points also notching her 13th game in double digit figures and freshman Kassidy Blough (Jackson, Mich./East Jackson) led the way with four assists. Despite the loss Alma out shot Wooster from the field goal range (49.1% to 45.9%) and from the free throw line (82.4% to 65.0%).

Alma will turn around tomorrow (Nov. 22) for the last day of the Nan Nichols Classic and take on Hanover College with a 1:00 p.m. tip off. Alma will have another non conference game before they kick off the start of conference play on Wednesday, December 2.

NOTES

• Tara Padgett recorded her 13th double digit scoring game in her three years with 11 points. 
• Kelsey Wolffis had a career high in both points (12) and in rebounds (6).
• Kassidy Blough has recorded four assists in both debut's as an Alma Scot.

QUOTES

Head Coach Kris Johnson

on the loss...

"We played well and I am proud of our team efforts. Kelsey (Wolffis) was great and Tara (Padgett) came in off the bench and did some great things. It was an all around team effort and I believe these are good games for us, they are teaching us how to win ball games. We need that environment and atmosphere to be able to compete in the MIAA and I am excited for that. We just have to keep working and keep learning, overall it was a fun game."