HIRAM, Ohio – January 31, 2024 – A 16-point win was the convincing outcome at home for Hiram, as it beat The College of Wooster by a final score of 63-47 on Wednesday evening inside Price Gymnasium.
The victory spells the end to a two-game winning streak and improves the Terriers' home record this season to 4-5. They've also matched their conference win total from all of last season.
"It was a great effort by all," head coach Alexandra Dellas said. "They definitely executed the gameplan."
Hiram started out hot, as it shot 47% from the field (7-15) in the first quarter as a team and took a 7-point lead early on. The team would sustain that effort throughout, as it outscored the Fighting Scots in each of the final three quarters, too.
The cohesiveness of the team stood out, as it never let up throughout the 40 minutes.
"They're really tight knit," Dellas said. "They really enjoy each other. I think if you enjoy each other off the court, it can translate onto the court. You have to work at it still, but they really do respect each other and love playing together.:
Hiram was led by junior Brooke Hickman, who ended the game with 26 points and 11 rebounds while shooting 9-of-12 from the field. It marked her second-most points in a career game.
Freshman Payton Black was a spark off the bench for the Terriers, as she scored 12 points for Hiram while shooting 50% from the field and knocking down a 3-pointer late in the second half in her 21 minutes on the floor.
Wooster kept within striking distance thanks to an impactful performance by Tatiyana Sturdivant, who had 18 points while shooting 7-16 from the field and collecting 5 rebounds.
Hiram finished the game on a 17-8 scoring run over the final 7:36 to seal the win. Seniors Maddie Rakestraw and Anastasia Lawler combined for 13 assists in the all-around effort.
"They're very much team-oriented," Dellas said of her senior duo. "They lead with a lot of love. They lead with the intention to win games. They don't care about who is in the spotlight – they just want to win."
Hiram will continue conference play as it heads to Oberlin, Ohio for a matchup against Oberlin College on Saturday at 2 p.m.
