Coyotes cruise past Manhattan Christian for first win of season
By: David Toelle, KWU Sports Information

Kansas Wesleyan forced 29 Manhattan Christian turnovers and converted them into 31 points, as the Coyotes eased past the Crusaders 69-33 on Tuesday night at the Manhattan City Auditorium.

The outcome of the game was never in question as Wesleyan raced out to a 10-0 lead in the first three minutes of the game. It took four and a half minutes for Manhattan Christian to post its first points of the game on a three by Susie McGraw with 15:33 left it the first half.

Manhattan Christian got no closer than seven the rest of the way, when Jolene Lutz hit a bucket with 14:35 left in the half. Wesleyan responded, sparked by a Kaylaen Dittmer three, going on a 15-2 run to build a 20-point, 27-7, lead with 8:53 left in the first half.

The lead never got under 20 points after that point of the game, as Wesleyan carried a 39-16 lead into the halftime break.

Two straight Manhattan Christian turnovers to start the second half allowed Wesleyan to increase its lead to 27, at 43-16 on a pair of Jentri Dixon free throws with 18:34 left.

Madison Askins score off a pass from Sarah Montoya gave Wesleyan a 31-point lead with 8:10 left at 60-29.

The Coyotes had four players reach double figures in scoring as Charressa Gray and Kayli Kauzlarich had 13 each, while Ascendra Peters and Dixon had 11 each. Wesleyan shot 44.1 percent from the field on 26-of-59 shooting. Wesleyan also easily won the rebounding battle 42-22, including 17 offensive grabs, as four different players had six each. Wesleyan had 20 assists as a team, led by Dittmer with five. Dittmer also led the Coyotes with four steals. Kauzlarich had six blocks to lead the Coyotes. In addition to the 31 points off turnovers, Wesleyan also outscored Manhattan Christian 15-0 on second chance points.

Manhattan Christian was led in scoring by Jolene Lutz and Susie McGraw with seven each, as the Crusaders shot 31.6 percent from the field on the night. Bethany Juhl and Chandler Hiebsch each had four rebounds to lead. McGraw had eight turnovers as the Coyotes used some full court pressure to create opportunities.

Wesleyan returns to action on Saturday, as they host Oklahoma Wesleyan at 5:30 PM inside Muir Gymnasium.

-- KWU SI --