Coyote women cruise to 70-50 win over Bethany
By: David Toelle, KWU Sports Information

It’s a great time to be at home for the Kansas Wesleyan Women’s Basketball team. After a 33-point win last Saturday over Ottawa, the Coyotes made it two routs in a row, blasting rival Bethany 70-50 on Thursday night at Muir Gym.

The win boosts Wesleyan’s home record to 4-1 in KCAC play, 4-2 overall, -- the only two losses coming to Mount Marty (S.D.) on December 15, and to Sterling on January 16.

Tierra Baldwin’s bucket with 19:27 to go in the first half put the Coyotes out early, but Bethany’s Megan Ziegel answered back with a three to make it 3-2 in favor of the Swedes with 18:46 left.

Both teams traded buckets when Roni Whitman would score with 17:38 to go, making it 5-4 Bethany.

Then Wesleyan’s offense caught fire. Nine unanswered point from the Coyotes saw Wesleyan take its biggest lead to that point at eight, 13-5, with 14:25 to go in the first half on a rebound and putback by Dittmer.

A bucket from both teams would see the Coyotes retain their eight-point margin when the Swedes would rally. An 8-2 Bethany run sparked by a three from Whitman, and capped by another three, this time from Jade Pihl, saw Wesleyan’s lead dwindle to just two at 17-15 with 8:24 left.

The Coyotes (8-13, 5-6) wasted no time in regaining control of the game. Baldwin would score seven of her game high 21 points during an 11-2 run for Wesleyan that saw the Coyotes take their biggest lead of the first half at 11, 28-17, with 3:19 to go.

Bethany (11-10, 5-6) cut Wesleyan’s lead to seven, but a three from Emily Luckeroth just before the halftime buzzer would send the Coyotes to the locker room with a 33-23 lead.

Rachelle Gaylord would score the first points of the second half, but the Coyotes would quickly pull away.

Charressa Gray’s bucket with 19:11 to go in the half would ignite nine unanswered points from Wesleyan as their lead increased to 17, 42-25, with 17:16 left.

A 9-2 run from Bethany saw the Swedes get back within ten at 44-34 on a bucket from Shalice Tommerup with 13:42 left, but the Swedes could get no closer.

A Ziegel free throw with 8:56 left would get Bethany back within ten again at 50-40, but the Coyotes would end any suspense with a 16-3 run over the next four and a half minutes to take a 23-point lead, 66-43, with 4:22 left.

Cathy Wade would cap the scoring for the Swedes with 1:02 left on a three point play, making it 70-50, as neither team would score for the remainder of the game, despite Bethany having three chances in the final minute.

Baldwin’s 21 would lead all scorer’s in the game, while Luckeroth added 20 and Gray pitched in 11 for the Coyotes, as they shot 30-of-64 from the field for 46.9 percent. Gray’s 12 rebounds would lead Wesleyan as she picked up her second double-double of the year. Baldwin would add 11 rebounds for the Coyotes, who outrebounded Bethany 43-36, recording her sixth double-double of the year. Wesleyan would dish out 14 assists against just 13 turnovers, led by Dittmer and Luckeroth with four each.

Ziegel and Whitman each scored ten to lead Bethany as the Swedes shot 17-of-58 from the field for 29.3 percent, including a paltry 4-for-17 from three point range. Gaylord’s six rebounds would lead the Swedes.

The Coyotes are back in action on Saturday, hosting Southwestern at 5 p.m., inside Muir Gym. Last time the Coyotes and Moundbuilders met, Southwestern nudged out a 72-71 double overtime win in Winfield on December 6. Wesleyan then wraps up its four-game homestand a week from tonight against McPherson.

-- KWU SI --