Box Score
Taking part in the final game of the Fairfield Inn Christmas Classic, the Kentucky Wesleyan women's basketball team beat McKendree 69-59 Sunday afternoon at the Owensboro Sportscenter. The Panthers head into the new year with a 7-4 overall record.
KWC jumped out to a 7-0 lead with senior
Shelbi Tyra scoring five of those points. McKendree ended the Panthers run with a jumper at the 18 minute mark.
Senior
Karly Rhoads gave KWC a nine point lead with 16:29 on the clock following two free throw attempts to put the score at 11-2.
The Bearcats used a 10-0 run to take their first lead of the game at 15-13 with just under 10 minutes to play in the game.
McKendree held its final lead of the first half with 7:03 to go, as Tyra knocked down a jumper to pull the Panthers within one of the Bearcats at 24-23.
Karly Rhoads converted on a three pointer during KWC's next possession to put the score at 26-24.
The Bearcats tied the score at 30 all with 4:24 remaining in the opening half, but freshman
Jennifer Walker-Crawford connected on a free throw attempt to put the Panthers back ahead 31-30. KWC went into halftime ahead 39-33.
The Panthers hit 57 percent from the floor in the opening 20 minutes of play and went 5-8 from the free throw line. McKendree was held to 38 percent shooting from the floor in the first half, while going 5-15 from beyond the arch and 2-3 from the free throw line.
During the opening seconds of the second half, McKendree cut the Panthers lead in half by hitting a three pointer. Junior
Jordanne Gambill responded with a three at the 19:28 mark to put KWC ahead 42-36.
Caty Ponce tied the game at 54 apiece with 7:43 to go in the game, but the Panthers went on an 11-0 run from that point to go ahead 64-54 with 1:37 on the clock.
The closest McKendree came to the Panthers in the final 1:30 of play was at 67-59 with 30 seconds on the clock.
KWC ended the game converting on 51 percent of its shots from the field and 42 percent from beyond the arch. The Panthers connected on 16-20 free throw attempts in the game. McKendree shot 31 percent from the floor, 35 percent from three point range and 69 percent from the strip.
Karly Rhoads finished the game with 18 points including going a perfect 9-9 from the free throw line. She also had a career best seven assists on the afternoon. Gambill grabbed six rebounds in the win.
The Panthers return to action on January 2 against G-MAC opponent Cedarville at 4:30 p.m. in Wilberforce, Ohio.
