Women's Basketball: Second quarter surge lifts Banana Slugs past Bison

SANTA CRUZ, Cali. – The Bethany College women's basketball tipped off at the UCSC Thanksgiving Classic against host University of California Santa Cruz Friday evening. The Banana Slugs defeated the Bison, 73-57.  

GAME FLOW

• The Banana Slugs started the game jumping to an early 6-0 lead. Bella Skobel put the Bison on the board with 5:10 to go in the quarter with an old fashion three-point play.
• Leading 13-3 the Banana Slugs held a commanding lead.
• Bethany went on a 12-7 run to close out the first quarter, sparked by a three pointer by Ashleigh Wheeler and three shots from downtown by Makenzee Mason. The Bison trailed 20-15 after the first stanza.
• The second quarter started slow once again for the Bison with the Banana Slugs extending the lead with a 15-4 run. The four Bison points came from an Alyssa Serensky free-throw and Lindsey Garrison three. Bethany closed out the rest of the second quarter edging UC Santa Cruz, 7-6. As the second quarter expired, Sophie Morey was able to get a shot up and score. Bethany trailed, 41-26 at the half.
• After exchanging buckets to start the second half, Bethany went on a 10-0 run sparked by Bella Skobel hitting a three, followed by a pair of free throws by Mason and a three by Garrison. Bethany trialed 47-43 with under five minutes to go in the third.  Unfortunately, for the Bison, the Banana Slugs finished the third quarter on a 13-0 run, taking a 60-43 lead into the fourth quarter.
• Despite outscoring UC Santa Cruz, 14-13 in the fourth, Bethany's deficit was too much to comeback from and they would fall, 73-57.

IN THE BOX SCORE

• Lindsey Garrison led the Bison with 20 points, shooting 6-for-13 from behind the arc.
• Makenzee Mason added 13 points.
• Ashleigh Wheeler had 12 points, seven assists, and team high five rebounds.

BY THE NUMBERS

• UC Santa Cruz shot 48.2% from the field (27-56) while Bethany shot 33.3% (19-57).
• Bethany made 13-of-34 from behind the arc.
• The Banana Slugs out rebounded the Bison, 41-33. The Bison edged the Banana Slugs on the offensive glass, 13-12.
• UC Santa Cruz outscored Bethany in the paint, 42-12.

RECORDS

Bethany College – 4-2 (3-0 PAC)

University of California Santa Cruz – 4-1 (0-0 ASC)

UP NEXT

Bethany has a quick turnaround closing out the UCSC Thanksgiving Classic against Redlands at 4 pm (est) at the Kaiser Permanente Arena on Saturday, Nov. 25.