NORTH NEWTON, Kan.—The Bethel College women's basketball team put up a fight but came up just short in a 63-61 loss to Kansas Wesleyan on Wednesday night at Thresher Gym. Despite a strong fourth-quarter surge, the Threshers couldn't complete the comeback, dropping to 13-12 overall and 12-7 in KCAC play.
Natalie Richards led the Threshers with a game-high 23 points on 11-of-20 shooting, while Madyson McKinzie contributed 12 points and five rebounds. Kendall Locke had a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds while also dishing out seven assists.
How It Happened
The game was evenly matched early, as both teams were tied 13-13 after the first quarter. Kansas Wesleyan took control in the second, outscoring Bethel 21-19 to take a 34-32 lead into halftime.
The third quarter proved to be the turning point, as Bethel struggled offensively, managing just seven points while KWU extended its lead to 51-39. However, the Threshers didn't back down, outscoring the Coyotes 22-12 in the fourth quarter. Richards hit a key basket late, and Bethel had a chance to tie in the final seconds, but their last shot fell short, allowing Kansas Wesleyan to escape with the win.
Inside the Numbers
- Bethel shot 41.8% from the field but just 22.2% from three-point range.
- The Threshers won the rebounding battle 34-30.
- Bethel forced 15 Kansas Wesleyan turnovers, leading to 10 points.
- The Threshers outscored KWU 22-12 in the fourth quarter.
Up Next
Bethel will look to bounce back when they travel to Ottawa University on Saturday, February 15th, for a 3:00 PM KCAC matchup.
