Findlay, Ohio – The Kentucky Wesleyan women's basketball team earned a late-season statement win over Findlay on Saturday afternoon.
The Panthers improved to 13-9 overall and 9-8 in the G-MAC, while the Oilers fell to 19-7 overall and 12-5 in the G-MAC.
Arielle Dabu scored the first four points of the game, getting Wesleyan off to a quick start, but it was a back-and-forth first quarter from there. Seven different Panthers scored in the frame to help Wesleyan to a 22-20 lead headed into the second.
The Oilers had a stronger second quarter, outscoring Wesleyan by six in the period to take a 48-44 lead into halftime. Sydnee Richetto had an impressive 11 points to keep the Panthers right on Findlay's heels.
Richetto hit another jumper to start the third period, but the home team then reeled off a 7-0 run to take the biggest lead of the game at 55-46. Wesleyan responded with consecutive three-pointers by Myah Montgomery and Emma Bruwer to come right back within three at 55-52. Later, with the Oilers leading 59-56, the Panthers scored the next eight points, highlighted again by three-pointers from Montgomery and Bruwer, to help give Wesleyan a 64-61 advantage going into the final quarter.
A 6-0 burst by Findlay to begin the fourth gave the home team the lead right back, but the Panthers responded with a 6-0 run of their own to go up 72-67 with under five minutes to play.
A layup by Bruwer with 1:45 gave Wesleyan a six-point lead, but the Oilers fought all the way back to tie it at 75 with under 30 seconds remaining. Shiya Hoosier knew what time it was, and the 5th-year leader of the Panthers scored the game-winning layup and recorded the game-sealing steal just seconds later to finalize the huge conference victory.
Montgomery had a team-high 16 points, hit four three-pointers, and added five rebounds, two steals, and a blocked shot.
Richetto and Bruwer were right behind her with 15 each, as the former went 6-10 from the field with three rebounds and two assists and the latter added a team-high seven rebounds, four steals, and a blocked shot to her ledger. Vilborg Jonsdottir had a strong afternoon as well with 11 points, six assists, and two steals.
The Panthers forced 18 turnovers by the Oilers and scored 22 points off those turnovers in the triumph.
Wesleyan now returns home for their final homestand of the season, first set to battle Ohio Dominican on Saturday, February 22 as part of Senior Day inside the Sportscenter. Tipoff is slated for 12:00 PM, with the men to follow at 2:15 PM.
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