OWENSBORO, KY - The Kentucky Wesleyan Women's Basketball team showed out in their 2023-24 home opener, taking down the Falcons of Simmons College by a final score of 104-47. This is the first time the Panthers have scored 100 points since 2021, and the most points scored since they took down Oakland City 110-47 in the fall of 2019. 

Wesleyan improves to 2-1 (0-0 G-MAC) on the year, while Simmons drops to 2-7. 

The Panthers came out of the gate not with their offense, but with their tight defense. Wesleyan held the Falcons to just a 1-for-11 mark from the field in the first quarter, limiting the opponent to just five total points. Corina Conley opened the game with a three and a two, and newcomer Sydnee Richetto helped with a three to help the Panthers jump out to an 8-0 lead. Despite struggling from the field in the opening frame (5-for-18), Wesleyan was up 19-5 after one.

Wesleyan shot much better from the field in the second quarter, connecting on 12 of their 21 attempts, which allowed them to score a big 32 points. Emmy Ralph got things going with two big buckets early. Up 25-11, Wesleyan then extended their lead thanks to a 17-0 run, capped off by a jumper from Shaylee McDonald and a three from Sydnee Richetto. The Panthers kept their foot on the gas and led 51-21 at the break. 

All 13 available Panthers were able to get in the game in the second half, with nine of them finding the bottom of the net. In the fourth quarter, Jordan Gillies scored seven points, including a late and-1, to help the Panthers cruise to the big 57-point victory. 

Leading a balanced scoring attack was Shaylee McDonald, who hit four threes en route to an 18 point performance. Also scoring in double figures was Myah Montgomery (14), Sydnee Richetto (14), Jordan Gillies (13), Corina Conley (13), and Jordyn Barga (10). Barga notched a double-double with 10 rebounds to go along with her 10 points. Hadley Lytton and McDonald each dished out four assists, while McDonald, Montgomery, and Shiya Hoosier each tallied three steals. 

Wesleyan forced an incredible 34 turnovers in the contest, with 18 coming from steals. Wesleyan managed to hold the Falcons to an 0-10 clip from three, the first time they have failed to allow a three in a game since November 15th, 2018 against Ohio Christian, exactly five years ago today. 

The Panthers will hit the road for their next game when they travel to take on the Kentucky State Thorobreds next Wednesday. Tipoff is set for 1 p.m. CT in Frankfurt, Kentucky. 

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