Lady Coyotes drop heartbreaker to Baker 64-63
By: David Toelle, KWU Sports Information

LINDSBORG – Kaitlin Schneden hit a 15-foot shot on the right side with 3.9 seconds left to give Baker a heartbreaking 64-63 win over Kansas Wesleyan in the final of the women’s portion of the KWU Basketball Classic on Saturday night at Hahn Gym.

Baker would jump out to a 12-7 lead to open the game on a three from Kendra Schaefer, with 11:41 left, and would push its lead to as many as nine on a bucket from Allie Heinen with 10:08 to go in the first half.

Wesleyan could not get a rally going, and Baker would push the lead to ten at 33-23 with 1:50 left on a three point play from Kaylee Murdock.

The Coyotes would awaken offensive to end the half, sparking by a bucket from Tierra Baldwin and capped by a Charressa Gray three with 21 seconds left to only trail 35-30 at the break.

Gray would open the second half with a three and then score again to tie it at 35 with 18:47 to go in the game. Aubree Gustin would then answer for Baker with a three point play on the Wildcats’ next possession.

Jennie Vopat would score with 18:04 left to cut the lead to one, and Baldwin would score just over a minute later to give Wesleyan its first lead of the night with 16:56 to go.

Both teams would trade the lead back and forth until the 5:46 mark when Murdock would hit a three for the Wildcats to cap a 7-0 run giving Baker a 55-49 lead.

Emily Luckeroth would hit a three with 51 seconds left giving the Coyotes a 61-60 lead, and both teams would trade the lead back and forth right up until the final buzzer.

With the Coyotes trailing 62-61, freshman LaCole Wilkinson would hit a bucket with 30 seconds left to give Wesleyan the lead. Back to back timeouts from Baker would set up the game winning play as Schneden dribbled into the short wing area and drained the shot with 3.9 left.

Gray led the way with 20 points for the Coyotes, going 7-for-11 from the field, including 5-for-8 from three point range, while Wilkinson had ten points to go along with six rebounds. Wesleyan was 25-of-59 from the field for 42.4 percent. Kaylaen Dittmer led the Coyotes with seven boards to go along with her nine points.

Murdock led Baker with 15 points, while Gustin added 11. The Wildcats were 24-of-69 from the floor for 34.8 percent. Baker won the rebounding advantage, outrebounding the Coyotes 44-37, led by Allie Heinen with eight.

The Coyotes are back in action on Monday night in an exhibition contest at Fort Hays State, before heading to Hastings, Neb., on Friday and Saturday to play in the Hastings Classic.

-- KWU SI --