[Women's Basketball] Big third quarter lifts Coyotes to win over Women's Basketball Falcons
WICHITA, Kan. – The Kansas Wesleyan University Coyotes outscored the Friends University Falcons by nine in the third quarter to take control of a close game and went on to a 70-57 win tonight in KCAC action (Jan. 23) inside the Garvey Center. The Falcons are now 12-8 overall and in a tie for the fifth spot in the league at 8-6.
The Falcons led by two at the half and then 33-29 early in the third when the Coyotes made their move, as a pair of threes from Jill Stephens keyed a 16-3 outburst that suddenly had KWU in front by nine at the 2:52 mark.
It was a seven-point edge heading to the fourth before a trey from Megan Foote extended the lead to double-figures at 56-46 with 7:51 remaining.
The Coyotes were then able to keep the Falcons at arm's length the rest of the way, with the final 13-point margin representing the largest lead of the night.
Friends was clicking early, getting a three from McKenzie Shippy (SR/Woodbine, Kan. ) for a 9-5 lead and then led 11-9 at the end of the first period.
After the Coyotes fought back to lead by four, five points each from Natia Hagan (FR/Humble, Texas) and Gracie Sammons (SR/Aubrey, Texas) helped the Falcons close the opening half strong. A layup by Sammons beat the buzzer to put Friends on top 29-27 at the break.
Shippy led the Falcons with 14 points, with Taylor Jackson (SO/Houston, Texas) recording another double-double of 13 points and 12 rebounds along with four blocks. Sammons added 12 points and three steals for the Falcons.
LaMyah Ricks and Tylieea Wallace each scored 15 to pace the Coyotes, while Caila Hill scored 11 and pulled down a team-leading eight boards for KWU, who improved to 13-8 overall and 11-4 in the KCAC.
The second half told the story offensively, as the Falcons cooled off to a 33.3 percent (7-of-21) clip in the final 20 minutes after shooting 42.3 percent (11-of-26) in the opening half. Meanwhile, KWU improved to shoot 48.1 percent (13-of-27) in the second stanza from a 44 percent (11-of-25) clip in the first half.
The Falcons will be at Avila University Thursday evening (Jan. 26) in Kansas City, Mo. before coming back to the Garvey Center to host Oklahoma Wesleyan University Saturday (Jan. 28) at 5 pm.