HIRAM, OHIO – Freshman forward Samantha Morford (Jefferson) connected on back-to-back jumpers in the final minute, including what would turn out to be the game-winning bucket, as the Hiram College women's basketball team came away with a 54-53 win against The College of Wooster today (Saturday, Dec. 3) in the North Coast Athletic Conference opener for the Terriers at Price Gymnasium.

With the win, the Terriers have won four straight games to improve to 4-2 overall and 1-0 in the NCAC. The Fighting Scots fall to 1-4 overall and 0-2 NCAC.

Wooster was in control for the majority of the first half as Hiram shot just 26.7 percent (eight-of-30) from the field. The Scots took the lead at the 14:10 minute mark and led by as many as 10 points, 29-19, with 2:32 left before the intermission. Junior forward Brenna Host (Seven Hills/Normandy) scored the final points for Hiram in the half to cut the lead to eight points, 29-21. But Wooster tallied one-of-two free-throws in the final 30 seconds to claim a 30-21 advantage heading into the locker rooms.

In the second half, the Hiram shooting improved as the Terriers began the period with a 12-2 scoring run that ended in a three-pointer by senior guard Tiffany Shields (Bedford Heights/Bedford) to give Hiram a 33-32 lead with 14:18 left to play. The Scots quickly recaptured the lead, but would never lead by more than four points the rest of the way, including a 49-45 margin with 3:35 to go. Morford connected on a jumper with 46 seconds left following a Wooster turnover to narrow the gap to a point, 53-52. The Scots turned the ball over again on their ensuing possession giving the ball back to Hiram will a chance to take the lead. Senior All-NCAC guard Kelsey Durichko (Brunswick) found Morford underneath the basket for her second consecutive field goal which also gave the Terriers a 54-53 lead with 19 seconds remaining. Following back-to-back misses by Wooster in the final seconds, Morford would get the rebound and would be fouled with two seconds left. Despite missing the free-throw and the rebound going in favor of Wooster, the Scots failed to get a shot off as Hiram hung for a 54-53 victory.

Wooster was led in scoring by Jessica Wingen with game-highs of 21 points and 11 rebounds. Samantha Sulzer was the only other Scot in double-figures with 12 points.

Hiram had one player score in double-digits in sophomore guard Marisa Thomas (Lorain/Amherst) with 11 points on four-of-nine shooting (44/4 percent). In addition, junior guard Calysia Smyers (Akron/Coventry) grabbed a team-high 10 rebounds and Durichko finished the game with a game-high eight assists.

Hiram will look to keep the momentum going when it travels to Oberlin for a NCAC matchup against Oberlin College on Wednesday, Dec. 7. The game will be part of a basketball doubleheader with the Terrier men's team. The women will play at 6 p.m., followed by the men at 8 p.m.