Kansas Wesleyan Women's Basketball faced off against the University of Saint Mary Spires, the top team in the KCAC, in a thrilling matchup at Mabee Arena.
Despite a valiant effort by the Coyotes, the turning point came in the fourth quarter when Saint Mary orchestrated a crucial run, securing a 59-55 victory. The game marked the Coyotes' final appearance before the semester break, leaving them with a 5-7 overall record and a 3-3 standing in the KCAC. Meanwhile, Saint Mary improved to 8-2 overall and maintained an unblemished 6-0 record in the KCAC.
With just over nine minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, the Coyotes held a slim 41-40 lead. However, Saint Mary's relentless 6-0 run shifted the momentum, establishing a 46-41 advantage with 6:41 on the clock. The Coyotes fought back, leveling the score at 46-all with contributions from Catherine Bowman and a clutch 3-pointer by Jill Stephens.
In the final stretch, Saint Mary executed a decisive eight-point surge, creating a 54-46 lead with 3:36 left in the game. Despite a late push by the Coyotes, including free throws by Bowman narrowing the gap to two points with 24 seconds remaining, they couldn't find the elusive game-tying or go-ahead basket.
The game began with Wesleyan seizing a 6-0 lead, fueled by Jill Stephens' four-point play. However, Saint Mary responded with an 18-6 run to end the first quarter leading 20-14. The Coyotes demonstrated resilience, tying the score at 20 in the second quarter before heading into halftime with a narrow 28-27 lead.
The third quarter remained closely contested, with Saint Mary taking a 40-36 lead just before the quarter's conclusion. Wesleyan faced challenges in field goal accuracy, shooting 30.8 percent from the field, but compensated with a strong 19-of-28 performance from the free-throw line. The Coyotes dominated the boards with a 48-30 rebounding advantage, led by Brooke Strine, Skyler Evans, and LaMyah Ricks.
Jill Stephens led the Coyotes in scoring with 15 points, while Catherine Bowman contributed 11. Looking ahead, Kansas Wesleyan will take a break until December 30, when they travel to Maryville, Missouri, for an exhibition against Northwest Missouri State. The Coyotes will resume KCAC action on January 3 against Southwestern and host Tabor on January 6.