CHICAGO, Ill. –  Indiana Wesleyan women’s basketball struggled to find the bottom of the net Thursday, kicking 2019 off with a loss to No. 21 Saint Xavier. Despite a 20-7 run in the third quarter, IWU couldn’t turn the page, losing 85-74.
FIRST HALF HOLIDAY SLUMP
- The Wildcats struggled to score as they knocked down just 10 shots in the first half on 34 attempts. IWU ranks third in the country in three-point field goal percentage and struggled shooting just 2-of-16 in the first half. Meanwhile, the Cougars shot 44% from the field and 50% from behind the arc in the first half on 7-of-14 shooting.
OUT THE GATE
- IWU kick-started the second half on a 20-7 run to tie the game at 47-47 with four minutes left in the third. IWU shot 61% from the field in the quarter and knocked down 4-of-5 from three. The Cougars ended the third with a run of their own as they scored 20 points in four minutes to give them a 10-point lead heading into the fourth quarter.
TOO MUCH, TOO OFTEN
- Gabby Kreykes and Maddie Welter were too much for the Wildcats, combining to score 51 points on 18-of-28 shooting. Welter was dangerous from three as she made 7-of-11 while Kreykes added three of her own.
NEXT TIME OUT
- IWU resumes Crossroads League play on Saturday with a home game vs. Bethel (Ind.) at 1 p.m. in Luckey Arena.
