NORTH NEWTON, Kan. — The Bethel College women's basketball team tipped off its home slate with two games in the Bethel Classic, falling to Morningside on Thursday before bouncing back with a dominant win over Baker on Friday night inside Thresher Gymnasium.
Morningside 88, Bethel 67 — Thursday, Nov. 6
The Threshers started strong, jumping out to a 29–23 lead after the first quarter, but Morningside's efficient shooting and rebounding proved too much to overcome in the second half.
Karlee Locke led Bethel with 18 points on 8-of-11 shooting, while Kendall Locke and Madyson McKinzie each added 14 points. Emersyn Eischen provided a big lift off the bench with 12 points and seven rebounds, and Caryn Yoder dished out five assists.
Bethel shot 42 percent from the field and held tough early, but Morningside closed the second quarter on a 25–13 run to take control. Despite the deficit, the Threshers battled throughout, highlighted by several fast-break baskets from McKinzie and aggressive drives from Kendall Locke.
Bethel 90, Baker 61 — Friday, Nov. 7
The Threshers responded in a big way on Friday, delivering a wire-to-wire win over Baker behind a complete team effort on both ends of the floor. Bethel poured in 70 points in the paint and forced 23 turnovers, turning them into 32 points in transition.
Kendall Locke led the charge with 21 points, eight assists, six rebounds, and five steals, while Karlee Locke posted a monster double-double with 16 points and 13 rebounds. Madyson McKinzie added 16 points, and Elena Jugovic chipped in 10 points off the bench.
Bethel came out firing, opening the game on a 12–3 run and never looking back. The Threshers outscored Baker 29–14 in the third quarter, shooting nearly 71 percent in the frame to put the game away.
Defensively, Bethel's ball pressure caused problems all night, with 13 steals and several forced turnovers leading to easy layups. The Lockes combined for eight assists and nine steals, while Farah Shehab provided energy off the bench with key defensive stops and timely shooting.
Up Next: The Threshers (2–2) return to action on Saturday, Nov. 15, hosting Saint Mary at 3:00 PM in Thresher Gym for their KCAC opener.
