HESSTON, Kan. — The Hesston College women’s basketball team closed out the regular season with a hard-fought 80–77 overtime loss to Arkansas Baptist on Saturday afternoon at Yost Gym.
Arkansas Baptist jumped out early, building a 24–15 lead after the first quarter. The Buffaloes capitalized on second-chance opportunities and pushed their advantage to as many as 10 in the opening frame. Hesston found its footing in the second quarter, erupting for 28 points behind efficient shooting and aggressive play in the paint to take a 43–38 lead into halftime.
Akiva Brown sparked the surge with strong finishes inside and a perfect 5-for-5 effort at the free-throw line, while Mariah Hall dominated the glass and added key buckets during the run. Jenna Avery and Krysten Carter each contributed timely scores, and the Larks shot 47 percent in the quarter to seize momentum.
The third quarter saw both teams trade baskets, each scoring 21 points. Brooke Bettis knocked down a three-pointer and added midrange jumpers to help Hesston stretch its lead to 13 midway through the period, the Larks’ largest advantage of the afternoon. Arkansas Baptist responded behind Jade Fry and Emani Wofford to trim the margin to five heading into the final quarter.
In the fourth, the Buffaloes slowly chipped away. A late layup by Wofford tied the game at 74–74 with under a minute remaining, forcing overtime after both teams came up empty in the closing seconds.
Overtime was a defensive grind. Arkansas Baptist managed six points in the extra session while holding the Larks to three, sealing the 80–77 final.
Bettis led Hesston with 23 points, including four three-pointers. Brown added 17 points and 11 rebounds for a double-double, while Hall recorded 11 points and a game-high 15 rebounds. Sarah Beltran finished with 10 points, and Carter added eight.
As a team, Hesston shot 41.2 percent from the field and 7-of-24 from three-point range while outrebounding Arkansas Baptist 65–52. However, 35 turnovers proved costly in a game that featured multiple lead changes and momentum swings.
With the result, the Larks conclude the regular season at 6–22, battling until the final possession in an overtime contest to close out the year on their home floor.
