FORT WAYNE, Ind.–The Bethel Pilots (11-12, 4-9) fell on the road to the No. 14 University of Saint Francis Cougars (20-3, 10-3) today in the Hutzel Athletic Center 70-55. Despite the loss, the Pilots remain in seventh place in the Crossroads League standings.
Mariah Claywell led the Pilots’ offense, scoring 15 points. She shot 60% from the floor (6-10). Claywell also made her first three-point shot of the season.
Isabel Scales scored 12 points for the Pilots and recorded a season-high for field goals made (five). Scales shot 71.4% from the floor (5-7), and also totaled eight rebounds.
Justyce Williams posted 10 points for the Pilots and hit a new season high for total three’s in a game (two). Williams shot 50% from the floor (4-8) and 40% from downtown (2-5).
Ellia Foster also hit a season-high for shots made behind the arc in a single game (two).
In the first quarter, Caroline Morris made a layup in the paint to put the first Bethel points on the board (8:29). Isabel Scales had a solid performance with a layup recorded at 3:16 and a jump shot at 1:31, assisted by Hannah Ruddle.
The Cougars led an aggressive offense, posting three successful three-pointers, as Bethel made zero attempts from the arc. Scales closed down the quarter with a layup in the paint (1:00), as the Pilots trailed 18-12.
In the second, Ellia Foster made the first shot for either team with a three-pointer (9:31) to bring the score to 18-15. Bethel could not decrease this three-point deficit as the quarter continued.
Gracie Lambes sank a shot behind the arc at 1:51 to put Bethel down 27-24 at the end of the first half.
At the onset of the third, Claywell made a layup within the first eleven seconds of the quarter (9:49). She persisted in scoring with a three-pointer at 7:54 to put Bethel down by three (32-29).
The Cougars then charged forth with a solid 13-point run that Bethel could not recover from. Hannah Ruddle ended the run with a jump shot (3:00).
Justyce Williams sank her first three-pointer of the game at 2:13. Bethel ended the quarter down 51-36.
In the last quarter, Justyce WIlliams continued to play well, accumulating seven points for the Pilots. Dominique Stilley made her first shot from downtown in the entire season (0:45).
Ellia Foster also made a three-pointer, assisted by Kallie Harrison, with twelve seconds left on the clock. The Pilots concluded the game down 70-55.
The Pilots continue the Crossroads League season on Saturday, Feb. 8 at 1:00 p.m. They will face the Mount Vernon Nazarene Cougars in the Gates Gymnasium.