Bethany Women’s Basketball Defeated by Washington & Jefferson
Feb. 20 – BETHANY, W. Va. – The Bethany College women's basketball team couldn't hold on to a double-digit first half advantage as they were defeated 80-68 by Washington & Jefferson on Saturday afternoon. Sophomore Kelsea Daugherty (Newport, Ohio/Frontier) scored a season-high 28 points to go along with 10 rebounds, giving her four consecutive double-doubles.
Daugherty carried the Bison (8-17, 6-12 PAC) to a 10-8 lead with 5:20 remaining, scoring eight early points.
Washington & Jefferson (21-4, 16-2 PAC) responded with a 5-0 spurt to take the lead (13-10).
Senior Mikyla Tipton (Wellsville, Ohio/Wellsville) answered the Presidents' run with a triple of her own to force a tie at 13-13. The game would draw even three more times before the conclusion of the quarter.
The Bison ended the quarter on a 6-0 run as Maclaine Murad (Bridgeport, Ohio/Bridgeport) scored four straight points. Kelsi Settle (Sebring, Ohio/Sebring) and Tipton then trapped a Presidents' player under the basket to force a turnover, allowing Settle to finish a layup at the buzzer to put Bethany up, 21-19.
The second quarter saw the Bison knock down consecutive triples from Hayley Holenka (Shadyside, Ohio/Shadyside) and Murad to extend the lead to 27-21 at the 7:38 mark.
Bethany increased their advantage to as many as 10 (31-21) with five minutes remaining as Holenka sank a pair from the free-throw line.
The Presidents slowly battled their way back into the game, cutting the Bison lead to four (37-33) with 1:22 remaining.
Bethany took a 39-34 lead into the half as Daugherty scored again, giving her a game-high 17 points at the break.
Washington and Jefferson jumped out ahead to start the third-quarter, using an 18-3 run to take a 52-42 advantage after the opening five minutes.
The Bison remained undeterred as they went on a 9-2 spurt of their own, highlighted by two threes from Holenka to draw within three late. W&J held a 56-51 lead at the end of the third quarter.
The Presidents used a quick start in the final period to go up double digits (66-56) with 6:45 remaining. The Bison went down as many as 15 as the Washington & Jefferson defense kept the Bison offense at bay throughout the final frame.
Daugherty led the Green & White offensively, finishing with a season-high 28 points while pulling down 10 rebounds.
Holenka finished with 14 points and seven rebounds, while Murad scored 10, including a perfect 3-of-3 from distance.
In her final game at the Hummel Field House, Tipton totaled six points, 11 rebounds, and five assists. She also led the Bison defense with two steals in the contest.
Despite the loss, the Bison earned the eighth seed in the Presidents' Athletic Conference tournament. Bethany women's hoops will return to action on Monday, February 22 as they travel to Latrobe, Pa. to take on fifth-seeded Saint Vincent at 7:00 p.m.
