PITTSBURGH, Pa. - La Roche women's basketball opened the 2025 season and the Alexiss Griggs era, falling in heartbreaking fashion to Wooster, 59-58, on Saturday evening.
Scoring was limited in the opening quarter, as both teams struggled to put the ball through the cylinder.
The Fighting Scots would hold a 5-2 lead and did so for awhile, until La Roche moved ahead, 6-5 at the 3:59 remaining mark. Down the final stretch of the quarter, Wooster would outscore the red and black, 8-4 and take a slim, 13-10 lead into the second quarter.
In the second quarter, the Scots built a 20-12 lead over the first 1:30 and despite the Redhawks coming back within two at one point, 23-21, it was Wooster closing out the half with a 31-24 edge.
After the Scots opened the second half of play by rebuilding an eight-point, 36-28 lead, La Roche chipped away to trail by just two at seperate points, but still saw itself behind, 45-41, as the game went to the fourth quarter.
With 6:36 remaining, the Redhawks were again behind by six points, but with 2:32 remaining, took their first lead since that early, 6-5 edge, and went up, 54-53.
La Roche had an opportunity with 22 seconds remaining to potentially seal the victory, but a pair of missed free-throws led to a Wooster layup off the ensuing inbound pass and on the final possession, the Redhawks were unable to capitalize.
For the game, La Roche finished 19-for-61 from the field (31.1%) and 1-for-15 from deep (6.7%) and at the free-throw line, converted 19-of-25 (76%) attempts.
On the other side, Wooster ended the game shooting 20-for-55 from the floor (36.4%), 6-for-14 from three (42.9%) and went 13-for-16 (81.3%) at the free-throw line.
Jazmine Dunn led the way for the Redhawks with 24 points, four rebounds, five assists and a pair of steals, while J'La Kizart chipped in with 13 points, eight rebounds, four steals and two blocks.
Catherine Kelly also scored 13 points on the night with five rebounds and three steals, as the third Redhawk in double figures.
La Roche begins a two-game road trip, starting on Wednesday, Nov. 12 when they travel to Bethany for a 6 p.m. tip.