SALINA, Kan. – On Wednesday, the Southwestern College women's basketball squad traveled north to Salina for a battle with the Coyotes of Kansas Wesleyan University. The Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) tilt marked the first road contest of 2023 for the Moundbuilders, and was a tough challenge from the outset. After starting the battle nicely with a 12-6 lead, the Coyotes answered over the final 34 minutes to down the Builders by a final tally of 77-50.

The opening frame of the battle was bipolar for Southwestern, as they began the battle on fire offensively with a 12-6 showing out of the gate. Unfortunately, over the next nine points, Kansas Wesleyan constructed a 9-0 run with their second unit to close out the quarter. Southwestern hit 5-of-10 (50%) from the field, but turned the ball over six times in the first, which allowed 17 total shots to be attempted by the Coyotes. All in all, KWU only connected on six of those tries for a total of 15 first-quarter points. It was 15-12 entering the second.

The second quarter was another nearly even stanza between the two sides, as a 4-of-11 (36.4%) display from the field by Southwestern was narrowly less impressive than a 5-of-13 (38.5%) showing by KWU. Additionally, the two teams combined for 10 turnovers in the period, with six of those being committed by the Builders. Kansas Wesleyan did put together their second 9-0 run of the contest in the second, extending their 20-18 lead to 29-18 with 1:49 left in the half. Southwestern would score the following four points to make it 29-22 at the intermission.

Quarter number three proved to be the major difference in the matchup, as the Coyotes came out strong on offense. They concocted a 10-of-20 (50%) shooting clip, while forcing five Moundbuilder turnovers and holding SC to just a 3-of-11 (27.3%) quarter from the floor. It was also a rebounding exhibition from the Coyotes, having boasted a 13-5 glass-eating advantage over Southwestern in the penultimate period. After a lopsided 28-10 quarter, the Builders fell behind by a more substantial 25-point margin at 57-32 with 10 minutes remaining.

Fighting hard until the final buzzer, Southwestern put up 18 points in the last of the battle's acts, as they were able to reach the 50-point mark. The Coyotes were once again at 50% from the field in the last portion of the tilt, and were able to finish off a 77-50 defeat of the Moundbuilders in Salina.

Denisha Anderson may have had her best offensive night of the season in this bout, finishing the night with 14 points on 7-of-11 (63.6%) shooting in the loss. She was able to get to the bucket on command, and scored all seven of her made baskets from inside the paint. Haven Matthews was also in double-figures with 10 points, having sunk 4-of-6 from the field and 2-of-3 from deep. Though she fouled out of the contest, Takia Profit had eight points off the bench for the Builders, and she was an efficient 4-of-8 from the floor.

D'Shonda Hunt and Devyn Woods were each credited with a single assist in the battle as the only Southwestern student-athletes to rack up a dime.

Hunt came up big on the glass for SC with nine rebounds. She snagged seven of those on the defensive end. Matthews added six total backboards and both Profit and Macey Pond contributed four rebounds to the team effort.

Southwestern reeled in six steals in this one, as Anderson (3) and Heather Chiesi (3) were the two Builders to tally a theft on the stat sheet. Additionally, Matthews, Woods and Profit were credited with blocked shots in the game, which gave the squad a total of three in 40 minutes.

With several encouraging signs of growth jumping to the forefront, as well as a few things to continue to work on, the Builders (3-14, 0-11 KCAC) will return to the hardwood at home on Saturday, Jan. 14 at 1 p.m. for a battle against the Avila University Eagles. It will be another opportunity for Southwestern to get themselves into the win column with half of the KCAC slate still yet to be played.

--buildersports.com--