MISHAWAKA, Ind. –The Bethel Pilots (11-10, 4-7) overcame the Huntington University Foresters (11-10, 4-7) today in the Gates Gymnasium 60-56. With this win, the Pilots are now tied for sixth place in the Crossroads League.
Mariah Claywell led the Pilots’ offense, scoring 18 points. She shot 63.6% from the floor (7-11) and recorded four rebounds and four steals.
Olivia Nickerson posted 16 points for the Pilots, alongside two rebounds and two assists.
Isabel Scales had seven rebounds. She also contributed six points and three steals for the Pilots.
The Pilots started the first quarter slowly, trailing 5-0 at 8:09. Olivia Nickerson put the first points on the board with a shot beyond the arc at 7:24. Caroline Morris recorded a layup at 4:47 to bring the score to 12-5, with Huntington leading.
Isabel Scales nailed a layup at 1:33, assisted by Nickerson. The Pilots ended the first quarter down 17-12, the same deficit they relinquished at the beginning of the game.
In the second quarter, Mariah Claywell sank a layup at 8:28 to bring the score to 19-14. Nickerson then downed a pair at the charity stripe (2:31).
Justyce Williams stole the ball from the Forester offense at 1:47, then Nickerson made a layup at 1:32, assisted by Isabel Scales.
Scales put the final points of the first half on the board with a layup at 0:37. The Pilots concluded the first half down 27-21.
The third quarter proved to be pivotal for Bethel, as the Pilots charged back with an impressive eleven-point run.
Hannah Ruddle made a jump shot at 8:23, assisted by Smith. Claywell posted seven points in a row for the Pilots. Her layup at 5:50 brought the Pilots up for the first time in the game (30-29).
Caroline Morris split a pair at the line at 5:21, in which, The Pilot offense pressed on to end the third quarter up 44-35.
In the fourth quarter, Claywell recorded a layup in the paint at 9:13. At 4:44, the Foresters had narrowed the score to 48-46, with the Pilots leading.
At 2:47, Nickerson made a shot from downtown to secure Bethel’s lead. The Pilots concluded the game 60-56 over the Foresters.
The Pilots continue the Crossroads League season on Saturday, Feb. 1 at 1:00 p.m. They will face the Indiana Wesleyan Wildcats at Luckey Arena.