MISHAWAKA, Ind. — The Bethel University women’s basketball team (5-5, 1-2) faced the #2 Indiana Wesleyan Wildcats (11-0, 3-0) at the Gates Gymnasium Wednesday night and fell 75-46.
The Pilots started strong, keeping pace in the first quarter, taking a one-point lead at 4:00 in with a triple from Faith Davis, 15-14 before the Wildcats hit a final layup with 53 seconds left in the first to trail six points (21-15).
The Wildcats jumped to an 11-point advantage 26-15 but Bethel chipped the deficit to eight points before the end of the half off a layup by Mariah Claywell, 36-38.
IWU grew to a 19-point lead at 1:52 in the third, then peaked at 31 points for the largest lead of the game at 3:29 left in regulation before falling 75-46.
Bethel struggled to find consistency, shooting 30% from the field and 26% from beyond the arc, compared to the Wildcats’ 45% field goal percentage.
Olivia Nickerson led the Pilots’ offense with a team-high 15 points, going 4-for-10 from three-point range and a perfect 3-for-3 from the free-throw line. Mariah Claywell provided a spark off the bench with 8 points, shooting 4-for-9 from the field, and added 4 steals on the defensive end. Faith Davis also contributed, scoring 6 points on two three-pointers.
Despite the loss, the Pilots displayed grit on defense, forcing 13 turnovers and tallying 8 steals. Hannah Ruddle and Isabel Scales were active on the boards, pulling down 3 rebounds each.
The Pilots will look to bounce back on Saturday, December 7, at 1 p.m., when they host the Saint Francis Cougars in the Gates Gymnasium to continue the Crossroads League season.