Kentucky Wesleyan controlled the game from start to finish against the Cedarville Yellow Jackets on Thursday to complete the season sweep of their foes from up north, winning 57-45. Tahlia Walton led a balanced scoring attack with 13 points, her 17th game in double figures this season.
With the win, KWC moves to 13-7 (10-4 GMAC) while the Yellow Jackets fall to 12-8 (7-8 GMAC).
The Panthers and Yellowjackets traded baskets early in the first quarter with Cedarville leading 8-6, but a Corina Conley three-pointer gave KWC a one-point lead and they never looked back. KWC closed the first quarter with an 11-3 run to give them a 17-13 lead after one.
Wesleyan held Cedarville to just seven points on 4-12 shooting in the second quarter. The Panthers used a late run fueled by Walton and Rachel Richardson to take a 32-23 lead heading into the break.
KWC started off the second half with a Shiya Hoosier steal and layup to extend the lead back to double-digits. The Panthers managed to keep a comfortable lead throughout most of the frame, never letting the Yellow Jackets closer than seven in the quarter. After a Cali Nolot and-1 near the end of the 3rd, Wesleyan led 46-38 going into the final 10 minutes of play.
After Cedarville cut the lead to five with just under five minutes left in the contest, Shaylee McDonald answered with a layup, which was followed by a huge three from Jordyn Barga. Wesleyan didn’t allow a point in the final 4:54 of the game and went on to take this one by 12.
The Panthers had two players finish with double-digits, Walton with 13, and Nolot with 12. Conley led the team with six boards while Conley and Nolot each tallied three assists.
Wesleyan shot 21-48 (43.8%) from the field and 6-14 (43.8%) from three-point range. Cedarville shot 17-61 (27.9%) from the field and 8-33 (24.2%) from behind the arc.
KWC will stay on the road this weekend as they head to Ohio Dominican Saturday to take on the their fellow G-MAC Panthers. Tipoff is set for 12 p.m.
