Women lose heart-breaker to Mary Baldwin

Daijah Davis
Daijah Davis

STAUNTON, Va. - The NC Wesleyan College women's basketball team dropped a heartbreaking conference game on the road 66-65 to Mary Baldwin University (Va.) on Wednesday evening.

MBU got out to a fast start shooting 60 percent in the first quarter to lead 20-15 after one. Wesleyan then shot 47 percent in the second quarter and 55 percent from three as they scored 25 points to outscore the Squirrels 25-17 and take a 3-point halftime lead at 40-37.

Both teams then came out of the break and struggled shooting the ball with Wesleyan scoring just 8 points in the quarter and shooting only 21 percent while MBU wasn't much better at 26 percent as they led 50-48 going to the fourth.

Wesleyan then shot 75 percent from three in the fourth and 39 percent in the quarter while holding MBU to just 25 percent shooting to take the quarter 17-16 but fell one point shy in the end 66-65. The women made 8 more threes than the Squirrels but MBU made 15 free throws whereas the Bishops could not get to the line enough going just 2 of 3 proving the slim difference in the game.

Sophomore guard Kayla Johnson led the Bishops with 13 points and 3 threes on the night along with 7 rebounds, an assist and a steal. Fellow sophomore Javana Jones also scored 12 points before fouling out in the fourth. Guard Keorra Taylor was then the final member of the team to finish in double digits scoring 10 points while adding 4 boards and 2 steals.

Senior point guard Daijah Davis then led the team with 6 assists while also adding 5 rebounds with 3 steals and a block and one bucket. Senior Nadiya Holley would also add 7 points with 4 rebounds, an assist and 2 steals while forward Caresha Leonard finished with 6 points and 7 rebounds. Wesleyan out rebounded MBU 42-36 overall as well.

Shooting guard Leah Wright also added 6 points on two threes as the Bishops fell to 3-9 on the season and 1-2 in the conference. MBU improved to 8-6 overall and 2-3 in the East Division.

NCWC will next remain on the road to face conference leader Greensboro College on Saturday at 4 PM.