CANTON, OH – Kentucky Wesleyan women's basketball (3-3, 1-2 GMAC) fell to Malone University (9-2, 4-0 GMAC) 75-71 on Monday. The Panthers were short-staffed once again, playing without Vilborg Jonsdottir and leading scorer Shiya Hoosier. Ilani Williams-Harris also went down with an injury halfway through the third quarter. Sydnee Richetto rose to the occasion, finishing with a career-high 23 points (10-16 FG, 3-5 3PT), four rebounds, and four assists.
 
Wesleyan dug themselves a large hole from the jump, as the Pioneers began the game on a 14-0 run. Despite the large deficit, the Panthers began to claw their way back in it. Lena Stinebrickner drove and converted in the lane to get the Panthers on the board. Riley Neal drilled a three-pointer and Arielle Dabu made another bucket to go on a quick 7-0 run to cut the Malone lead to seven. Richetto scored a nice pull-up jumper with just over a minute remaining. At the end of the first frame, Wesleyan trailed the Pioneers 19-11.
 
Williams-Harris wasted no time getting in the stat sheet, scoring a layup just seconds into the second quarter. Another mid-range jumper made by Richetto at the 7:24 mark really got the Panthers going. Carson Sisk intercepted Malone's pass and raced for a fastbreak and-one to cap off a 13-6 run for the Panthers. Wesleyan shot 75% (9-12 FG) in the second quarter to make it a 37-32 deficit at halftime.
 
A triple made by Myah Montgomery early in the third cut the Malone lead to just three points. Malone then responded with a 12-0 run to give them their biggest lead of the game (16) as the Panthers went on a long scoring drought. Although Wesleyan answered back, as Neal and Richetto each made threes to quickly get them back in it.
 
Emma Bruwer made a layup apart of a 5-0 Panther run to cut it to a seven-point game. Dabu converted in the lane and Richetto nailed a pull-up three with under a minute remaining, but it was all too late. Wesleyan went on a 9-2 run in the final two minutes as they came up just short to one of the G-MAC's best. The Panthers showed a lot of heart today in Canton, refusing to give up although they were down double-digits on the road while missing three key players.
 
Neal really stepped up in her first start with the Panthers, recording 12 points (5-9 FG, 2-4 3PT), three rebounds, and playing 34 minutes. Montgomery added eight points and three boards. Dabu chipped in seven points. Asia Sawyers provided a valuable six points and five rebounds off the bench.
 
Wesleyan will look to get back on track this Thursday, December 19^th as they host Saint Mary-of-the-Woods at the Sportscenter at 5 p. m.

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