NORTH CANTON, Ohio – In a rematch of the 2019 Great Midwest Athletic Conference title game, the Kentucky Wesleyan College women's basketball team couldn't overcome a first half deficit, falling to Walsh University by a tally of 75-65. The loss hands the Panthers their first blemish of the season after winning 13 straight to start, the best start in program history.
The Panthers notched the first basket of the game on a lay up from Keelie Lamb but the Cavs scored 11 straight points to jump out to an 11-2 lead. Tahlia Walton halted Walsh's momentum with a lay up of her own before Leah Richardson cut the deficit to eight with a jumper in the paint.
Richardson notched a fast break lay up followed by a three to cut the Panthers deficit to 16 in the second quarter. Wesleyan went on to shoot 50% in the second frame but trailed 46-29 at the break, the first time they trailed at half all season.
The second half opened with a 12-2 run for Wesleyan with Tahlia Walton leading the way with four points. Lamb capped off the run with a lay up, cutting the deficit to seven. The Panthers outscored the Cavs 14-9 in the third frame and trailed 55-43 entering the final quarter.
Kaylee Clifford notched a lay up three minutes into the fourth that made it a single-digit game before Walsh sunk a pair of free throws. Cali Nolot and Lamb both botched a lay up to make it 60-52 with just over six minutes remaining. Richardson tallied a lay up in the final 70 seconds to make it a nine-point margin but the Panthers were unable to close the gap, falling 75-65.
Wesleyan outscored the Cavs 36-29 in the second half but the first half deficit was too much to overcome. Lamb flirted with a double, posting 22 points and eight rebounds, all of which were defensive. Nolot and Walton each finished with 10 points while also leading the team with three steals a piece.
The Panthers look to bounce back on Saturday, taking on Malone at 12 pm CT in Canton, Ohio.
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