Bethany Women’s Basketball Defeated by Chatham

Feb. 6 – BETHANY, W. Va – The Bethany College women's basketball team was defeated 64-55 by Chatham in Presidents' Athletic Conference play on Saturday afternoon.

The two teams exchanged baskets early before Hayley Holenka (Shadyside, Ohio/Shadyside) gave the Bison a 7-5 lead after converting a pair from the foul line with 5:58 to play in the first quarter. 

Holenka went on to hit two threes in the quarter, finishing with eight early points as Bethany held on to a 15-14 advantage at the end of one.

The Cougars began the second period with a 7-3 run, taking the lead 21-17. Kelsea Daugherty (Newport, Ohio/Frontier) put an end the Chatham spurt with a short jumper off the assist from Mikyla Tipton (Wellsville, Ohio/Wellsville).

Tipton scored the next six points for the Green & White before finding Ashley Duthie (Madison, Ohio/Madison) on the block for an easy two, giving Bethany the 27-25 advantage with 3:47 remaining. 

Tipton continued to do it all for the Bison in the first half. She collected 11 points, seven rebounds and four assists as Bethany trailed 33-31 at the intermission.

Chatham extended their lead in the opening five minutes of the third quarter with a 9-2 run to make it 42-33. Bethany managed to cut the lead to six (49-43) by the end of the period.

Bethany then found its' offensive rhythm with a 6-0 run (51-49), highlighted by back-to-back layups from Holenka with 7:00 minutes remaining.

Chatham, however, regained control of the game and never let Bethany get any closer. The Cougars led by as many as 11 with over a minute remaining as they held the Bison at bay in the closing minutes. 

Offensively, Tipton led Bethany with 18 points, 11 rebounds, and seven assists. The senior guard shot 4-of-8 from the floor and went 10-of-13 from the charity stripe.

Holenka finished with 12 points, Daugherty had nine, and Kelsi Settle (Sebring, Ohio/Sebring) chipped in eight points and nine boards.  

Defensively, Settle recorded three blocks and two steals, while Taylor Large (Hopwood, Pa./Laurel Highlands) had two blocks and a swipe.

Bethany women's hoops will return to action on Wednesday, February 10 as they take on Westminster on the road at 6:00 p.m.