Salina, Kan. – The Bethany College Swedes Women’s Basketball team took a trip to Salina, Kan. to take on their biggest rivals, the Kansas Wesleyan University Coyotes.
Kansas Wesleyan set the tone early, outscoring the Bethany 18–12 in the opening quarter and never relinquishing control. The Swedes matched the Coyotes in the second period with 12 points apiece, but a 17–12 third-quarter surge by Kansas Wesleyan widened the gap and put the game out of reach heading into the final frame.
The Swedes were led by Lilyan Walden, who scored a team-high 10 points while adding four rebounds and three steals. Hannah Moss contributed seven points, and Chloe Percy anchored the glass with seven rebounds to go along with two points. Bethany found success inside, tallying 26 points in the paint and owning a slight edge in second-chance opportunities, but cold perimeter shooting proved costly. The Swedes connected on just 1-of-14 attempts from three-point range and shot 32.3 percent from the field overall.
Despite the loss, the Swedes battled on the boards, pulling down 36 rebounds, including 10 on the offensive end. However, nine turnovers and the inability to generate momentum from beyond the arc hindered any sustained comeback effort.
Up Next…
The Swedes have one more game on their schedule, and it is a tough one. Bethany will host the No. 22 Friends University Falcons for Senior Night on Saturday, February 21. Tipoff is set for 5:00 PM in Hahn Gymnasium.
