OWENSBORO, Ky. – It was an unfamiliar venue but the same fast-pace, lights out shooting on Saturday for the Kentucky Wesleyan College women's basketball team. The Panthers cruised to a 74-51 Great Midwest Athletic Conference victory over Cedarville University to remain unbeaten on the year at 10-0 overall and 3-0 in conference play.
Wesleyan has recorded six straight 20-point victories while holding a 24-home game winning streak, the longest in program history.
The Yellow Jackets jumped out of the gate early, taking a 7-0 lead less than two minutes into the game as the Panthers only took two shots during that span. Wesleyan took a time out that turned the game around, sparking a 7-0 run with five points from Keelie Lamb. The Panthers held a 17-14 lead after the first quarter.
Wesleyan went on a 20-0 run into the second frame, holding the Yellow Jackets scoreless for 6:50 of action while forcing five turnovers. Emma Johnson tallied seven points during the run while Leah Richardson scored six.
Cedarville scored a mere five points in the second quarter, shooting 1-13 (7.7%) from the floor and 3-3 from the charity stripe. The Panthers tallied 21 points while shooting 46.7% from the floor and 50% from downtown.
The Panthers took a commanding 38-19 lead to the break with Johnson pacing the team with 10 points. Wesleyan forced 11 turnovers in the first half alone while outrebounding the Yellow Jackets 20-11.
The third quarter was arguably the best for the Panthers, shooting 11-16 (68.8%) and outscoring Cedarville 25-16. Wesleyan never led by less than 19 points. In the closing second Kaylee Duncan worked hard in the paint for an offensive rebound and found an open Jordyn Barga in the corner who drained the buzzer-beating three to put the Panthers ahead 63-35 entering the fourth.
Barga opened the final frame with an easy lay up, putting Wesleyan ahead by 30 for their largest lead of the game. From there the Panthers never lost their 20-point lead.
Lamb paced the team with 17 points followed by while Tahlia Walton and Leah Richardson both scored 13 off the bench. Wesleyan recorded 20 assists on the day, led by Lamb and Lily Skye Grimes with four a piece. Walton posted a team-high eight rebounds followed by Duncan with seven.
Wesleyan dominated the paint, outscoring the Yellow Jackets 42-28 while the Panthers bench outscored Cedarville 47-16.
The Panthers remain home next week, hosting Trevecca Nazarene on Wednesday night back home at The Sportscenter. Tip off is set for 5:30 pm CT.
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