HILLSDALE, Mich. – In a long awaited return to the hard wood, the Kentucky Wesleyan College women's basketball team opened the 2020-21 season with a 10-point road victory, taking down Hillsdale College 72-62 in the first Great Midwest Athletic Conference contest of the season.

The Chargers (0-4, 0-4 G-MAC) opened the game with a 7-2 run but five quick points from Cali Nolot evened the score at 7.  Back-to-back lay ups from Leah Richardson put Wesleyan (1-0, 1-0 G-MAC) ahead by four until the Chargers responded with a three of their own.

The two teams traded the lead numerous times in the second quarter as neither team led by more than four.  Hillsdale hit a pair of free throws in the closing minute to take a 32-29 lead to the break.

The Panthers offense hit their stride coming out of the locker room, utilizing a 15-2 run to build up a 10-point lead less than four minutes into the second half.  Richardson tallied a lay up on the first possession before back-to-back three's from Jordyn Barga and Kaylee Duncan put Wesleyan ahead by five.

Hillsdale notched a pair of free throws but the Panthers responded with another seven straight points.  Another three, this time from Kaylee Clifford, and a pair of lay ups from Tahlia Walton capped up the run.

Shiya Hoosier went 2-2 from the charity stripe at the 3:52 mark to give the Panthers a 12-point lead for their largest lead of the game.  Hoosier recorded a steal and score in the closing minute of the third quarter to give the Panthers a 55-43 lead entering the final frame.

The Chargers opened the fourth with a pair of three's but Clifford halted their momentum with a three of her own.  Hillsdale cut the deficit to two midway thru the frame before Nolot silenced them once again with a three.  Lily Miller scored seven points in the final three minutes to help seal the win for the Panthers.

Nolot paced the Panthers with 14 points of 5-7 shooting.  Walton and Richardson were right behind with 12 and 10 points respectively.  Clifford led the way with seven rebounds and three blocks while Miller dished out six assists.  Walton and Hoosier recorded six rebounds each.

Wesleyan scored 34 points in the paint to the Chargers' 20.  The Panthers bench also outscored Hillsdale's by a score of 37-13.

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