OWENSBORO, KY – Kentucky Wesleyan women's basketball team (10-7, GMAC 6-6) got back in the win column on Thursday with a 66-63 win over in-state rival Thomas More (8-12, GMAC 5-7).
Riley Neal had a monster game, scoring 17 points and nine rebounds off the bench
Wesleyan began the game shooting the ball efficiently, as
Sydnee Richetto scored two early baskets inside the arc. Neal made a triple to take a 9-7 lead at the 4:08 mark. Minutes later,
Emma Bruwer went on an individual 5-2 run to put the Panthers up six.
Arielle Dabu banged a three at the buzzer to cap off an impressive 19-11 first quarter.
Midway through the second, the Panthers went on a 7-0 run led by a Bruwer layup. The Saints scored five points in the last thirty seconds of the first half to cut Wesleyan's lead to 32-29 heading into the locker room.
Thomas More led early in the third before
Vilborg Jonsdottir sunk a floater to regain the lead 36-35. Bruwer continued her big night with a three-pointer with 6:58 remaining. Richetto made a big-time jumper with 39 seconds left to regain the lead once again, 48-47.
Neal converted an and-one to open up the final quarter.
Myah Montgomery and Richetto made triples on consecutive possessions to go up five points. Neal continued to dominate, scoring a layup off the assist from
Shiya Hoosier with just under three minutes to go. After Thomas More made a desperation three with under five seconds left, Neal was successful at the charity stripe to put the nail in the coffin.
Richetto and Bruwer finished with 14 points each. Jonsdottir added six points and four assists. Hoosier had three steals.
Wesleyan will travel up to Hillsdale, Michigan to take on the Chargers at 12 p.m. on Saturday, February 1
st.
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