Lady Coyotes snap three game skid with win over Doane
By: David Toelle, KWU Sports Information

HASTINGS, Neb. – Kansas Wesleyan snapped its three game losing streak with a 67-62 win over Doane (Neb.) in the second game of the Runza/Alexander Motors Hastings Classic on Saturday afternoon.

After losing its opening game of the Classic to No.3 ranked Hastings (Neb.) by just ten points, 73-63, the Coyotes rebounded for the big win over the Tigers, who received votes in the NAIA Pre-Season Poll.

The Coyotes jumped out to a 7-2 lead thanks to a bucket from Kaylaen Dittmer, who has come alive offensively the last three games. Doane would answer with eight straight points to take a 10-7 lead with 12:02 left in the first half.

Dittmer would tie it back up on Wesleyan’s next possession with a three-point play, but Doane would take the lead back with 10:26 to go on a Hannah Helman basket. Freshman phenom LaCole Wilkinson would hit a pair of free throws to tie it, sparking an 11-1 KWU run that would put the Coyotes up 21-13 with 6:51 to go in the first.

Doane would answer back, with a 10-0 run of its own to retake a two point cushion with 4:10 left, but Dittmer would tie it up and the Coyotes would take a six-point lead, 31-25 into the intermission.

Wesleyan (2-4) would not relinquish its lead in the second half.

Becky Marsh would hit a three with 7:45 left to get Doane within five at 52-47, but a Jenn Lee triple with 5:35 left would give the Coyotes their biggest lead of the night of at 60-48.

Jennie Vopat would put the Coyotes up by 12 again with 3:10 left when Doane made a final charge.

A 12-1 Tiger run would get Doane back within one on a three from Lindsay Anderson with 1:01 left, but a pair of Wilkinson free throws with 48 ticks left would put the Coyotes up three. Lee and Wilkinson would each hit a free throw as the Coyotes held the Tigers off the board in the final minute to hold on for the 67-62 win.

Wesleyan was led by Dittmer with 18, while Wilkinson added 12 and Lee ten for the Coyotes who were 22-of-57 in the game for 38.6 percent from the field. Dittmer also led the way on the boards with six, and Wilkinson added five for the Coyotes.

Doane was led by Anderson with 19 points, while Alissa Holland had ten and a game high 11 rebounds. The Tigers were 21-of-57 from the field for 36.8 percent. Doane also easily outrebounded the Coyotes 47-31, but were hampered by poor free throw shooting, going 17-of-30 from the foul stripe for 56.7 percent.

Wesleyan is off until Thursday when they open KCAC play on the road at Ottawa University. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. from Wilson Field House in Ottawa. The Coyotes then take on Bethany on next Saturday in Lindsborg.

-- KWU SI --