LINDSBORG, Kan. — The Southwestern College Lady Builders faced a challenging matchup against the Bethany College Lady Swedes, falling short with a final score of 56-70. 

Lady Swedes establised themsleves early, taking a commanding 15-8 lead after the first quarter.

Southwestern struggled to find their rhythm offensively throughout the opening period, connecting on only three of their 17 field goal attempts. Macey Pond and Christy Wiebe led the offensive charge for the Lady Builders, but their efforts were not enough to overcome Bethany's early advantage.

The second quarter mirrored the struggles of the first, with Southwestern managing only 11 points. Bethany capitalized on their size advantage and executed their offensive sets effectively, extending their lead to 31-19 heading into halftime.

The Lady Builders displayed a surge of resilience in the second half, particularly in the fourth quarter where they poured in 24 points. However, each time Southwestern mounted a comeback attempt, Bethany responded with crucial baskets, effectively maintaining their lead throughout the contest.

Bethany's offensive success was a product of a balanced scoring attack, with Jaden Newfarmer and Colbi Rignell combining for 23 points. The Lady Swedes also showcased their efficiency from the field, shooting 35.3% compared to Southwestern's 24.6%. Furthermore, Bethany dominated the boards, out rebounding the Lady Builders 38-42, limiting Southwestern's second-chance scoring opportunities.

Despite generating eight points off of turnovers, Southwestern's offensive struggles and rebounding woes proved insurmountable. The loss drops the Lady Builders' record to (1-8, 1-5) , while Bethany improves to (7-6, 5-2 ).

Looking ahead, the Lady Builders will aim to regroup and refocus as they prepare for their upcoming games. They will need to address their offensive efficiency and rebounding deficiencies to improve their competitive standing and turn their fortunes around in the upcoming conference schedule.