Women's Basketball: Cougars edge Bison

BETHANY, W.Va. – Bethany College women's basketball team hosted the Chatham University Cougars inside Hummel Field House Saturday afternoon. The Cougars downed the Bison. 63-57.

GAME FLOW

• Neither team could get their offense going to start the game. The Bison and Cougars were held scoreless for the first four minutes. The Cougars' lid was lifted after Emily Durkee made a layup. Bethany's Alyssa Serensky put the Bison on the board hitting a pair of free throws with 5:43 to go in the first stanza. The Cougars maintained the lead until Makenzee Mason knotted the game at 11-11 with under a minute to go. Both teams exchanged buckets to close out the first quarter.
• Chatham led 15-14 heading into the second quarter. The Bison stayed close with the Cougars. Sophie Morey knotted the game at 18-18 with 6:41 to go. After Chatham regained the lead with 5:41 to go, both teams would remain scoreless until 1:59 to go in the half. Bella Skobel would cut the deficit to four, 27-23, heading into the halftime break.
• The Cougars' lead swelled to nine, but the Bison were able to stay within reach. Battling back, Makenzee Mason's jumper brought the Bison within four, 34-30. Minutes later, Alyssa Serensky capitalized on a trip to the charity stripe and cut the Cougars' lead to two, 34-32. With 19 seconds left in the third, the Cougars held a 41-34 lead. After a Bethany timeout, Ashleigh Wheeler hit a half-court shot to bring the Bison back within four.
• Makenzee Mason nailed a three-pointer cutting the deficit to two, 42-40. Unfortunately for the Bison, the Cougars would go on an 6-2 run to extend their lead. The Bison would not back down. After a few buckets from the Bison the deficit was closing in. Mason hit another three this time bringing the Bison within one, 48-47. The Cougars continued to build on their slim lead and took a six point win.

IN THE BOX SCORE

• Ashleigh Wheeler had 23 points with three rebounds and two assists.
• Makenzee Mason had her second double-double of the season with 15 points and 13 rebounds.
• Sophie Morey pulled in 10 rebounds.

BY THE NUMBERS

• Bethany out hustled Chatham on the boards, 48-33.
• Chatham shot 38.3% from the field while holding Bethany to 32.3%.

RECORDS

Bethany College – 6-14 (6-9 PAC)

Chatham University – 12-6 (9-5 PAC)

UP NEXT

Bethany will travel to Grove City on Wednesday, Feb. 1 for a 6 pm tip-off.