Box Score
The Kentucky Wesleyan women's basketball team fell to G-MAC opponent Cedarville 75-72 on Thursday evening to drop back-to-back conference games for the first time this season. Senior
T'Essence Phelps grabbed her 500th career rebound as a Panther. The Panthers are 14-7 on the season and 9-3 in league play following the loss.
Cedarville jumped out to a 9-2 advantage to start the game. The Panthers cut it to three points after sophomore
Jade Mills-Harris hit a jumper to make it a 12-9 game with 14:43 to go in the first half of action. Senior
Karly Rhoads put the score at 14-12 after converting on a layup and a free throw attempt with 13:39 remaining before the break.
The Yellow Jackets took a double digit lead at the 10:41 mark after connecting on a three point attempt to put the score at 24-14. KWC used an 8-0 run to take its first lead of the game at 30-29 following a made layup by
Karly Rhoads at the 5:11 mark. Cedarville regained the lead on the ensuing possession and held the advantage heading into halftime, leading 40-39.
KWC shot 50 percent from the field, 62 percent from the free throw line and 33 percent from three point range in the first 20 minutes of play. The Yellow Jackets made 56 percent of its shots from the floor and 53 percent from beyond the arch in the opening half, while going two-for-two from the free throw line.
Karly Rhoads opened the second half by making a layup at the 19:47 mark to put the Panthers back ahead 41-40.
Neither team went ahead by more than five points until the 11:12 mark when the Yellow Jackets made a three point basket to go up 59-53 with 11:12 remaining in the game.
Cedarville held the 70-62 advantage with 3:58 remaining in the game before the Panthers went on a 5-0 run to pull within three at 70-67 with 1:51 on the clock.
The Yellow Jackets led 75-72 with just under a minute remaining in the game after senior
Shelbi Tyra made a three pointer for the Panthers. KWC tried to tie the game, but its three point attempt came up short.
The Panthers finished the game shooting 43 percent from the field, 73 percent from the free throw line and 31 percent from three point range. Cedarville converted on 50 percent of its shots from the floor and from beyond the arch, while making 74 percent of its attempts from the stripe.
Karly Rhoads posted a game high 25 points and three steals. Freshman
Erin Dorn had a team best six rebounds. Senior
Kourtney Rhoads recorded five assists. Phelps finished with five rebounds to put her with 502 rebounds as a Panther.
KWC returns to action at home on Saturday, February 15 at 1:00 p.m. against Central State, as the Panthers will honor its four seniors:
Karly Rhoads,
Kourtney Rhoads,
Shelbi Tyra and
T'Essence Phelps following the game.
