Box Score
Bethany (WVA) College out-scored the Lions 33-6 from behind the three-point arc, and held off a late Mount charge down the stretch en route to a 69-64 win in the first game of the Baldwin Wallace University Tournament. The Mount, 1-1 overall, will be back in action on Nov. 22 when they take on Buffalo State College in their final game of the weekend tournament in Berea, OH.
The Bisons broke open a close game between the two teams around the 14 1/2 minute mark of the first half, thanks mainly to a strong outside shooting attack. Bethany College grabbed a double-digit lead against the Lions at 7:22 of the first half, after a basket made the score 26-15. The Mount also cooled off on their shooting down the stretch toward the half time intermission, scoring their last points of the half at 2:23 thanks to a basket by Tara Dennis (Batavia, OH/Williamsburg). The Bisons woud lead at halftime, 36-22, connecting on nine-of-16 three-pointers while the Lions were scoreless from three-point range, going zero-for-two. Bethany College also forced 15 Mount first half turnovers.
The Lions faced a 20-point deficit, 51-32 at 12:17 of the second half but battled back to make a game of it. Solid free throw shooting and an improved defense allowed the Mount to get within nine points, 62-53, when Erica Walsh (Louisville, KY/Sacred Heart Academy) converted the second of two free throw attempts with 2:30 to play in the game. Walsh' layup a minute later brought her team to within nine points again of the lead, 64-55, and a Dennis basket with 23 seconds left made the score, 66-58. Bethany College connected on two free throws, however, with 16 seconds left, to push their lead to 69-60, before the Mount's Bristyl Webb (Oxford, OH/Talawanda) and Dennis added baskets in the closing seconds for the final margin.
The Mount was 18-of-23 from the free throw line in the second half, while the Bisons were 11-of-19 from the charity stripe in the final 20 minutes. The Lions forced 12 second half turnovers and committed only five second half miscues.
Dennis posted game-high totals of 25 points, 11 rebounds and three blocked shots, while Walsh and Webb each chipped in 10 points. Webb also grabbed seven rebounds. Bethany College went to 3-0 win the win.
