JACKSON, Tenn. – The No. 16 Bethel Lady Wildcats lost a heartbreaker to No. 5 Wayland Baptist Friday night in the Jackson Invitational. The Flying Queens won 76-68 in overtime to move to 5-2 while Bethel dropped to 6-3.
WBU led 21-16 at the end of the first quarter but the Lady Cats rallied to lead at halftime 34-33. A 15-9 margin in the third stanza gave the Queens a 48-43 margin at the end of three. Bethel fought back and sent the game to overtime outscoring WBU 19-14 in the fourth quarter. A short jumper by Bethel's Tasia Jones at the end of regulation fell off the rim and the teams went to overtime tied at 62. WBU scored the first eight points of the extra period. Bethel cut the deficit to two but clutch free throw shooting by the Queens enabled them to hold on to win.
Bethel shot 28 percent from the floor hitting 23-of-82 shots. They were 7-of-33 in three point attempts at 21 percent. The Lady Wildcats connected on 15-of-21 free throw attempts. They outrebounded the Queens 50-44. Bethel committed 10 turnovers.
Wayland Baptist was 22-of- 63 from the floor at 34 percent. They hit five three's on 25 attempts at 20 percent. WBU entered the game as one of the best free throw shooting teams in the nation at 85 percent. They were 27-of-43 in the game at 79 percent. The Queens had 14 turnovers.
Bethel had an 18-4 advantage in points off turnovers. Wayland had a 21-9 margin in bench points.
Bethel was led in scoring by Mickey Head who had 17 points. She also grabbed seven rebounds and had a team high five assists. Tyasia Willis had 16 points and a game high 16 rebounds. Morgan Martin followed with 15 points and 14 rebounds.
Payton Brown who scored eight of her 21 points in the overtime led WBU with 21 points. Morgan Bennett had 18 points and 14 boards. Kaylee Edgemon had 14 points.
Coach Chris Nelson said he was proud of his team despite the tough loss. "I am really proud of our ladies for fighting and battling all game long. We have to do a better job executing in certain situations and completing defensive assignments especially when we are fatigued. We did a good job battling foul trouble and adjusting to different looks Wayland threw at us. They are a sound ball club with great leadership. We have to have a short memory and a quick turnover around against a quality opponent tomorrow."
Bethel meets No. 9 Columbia College Saturday at 8 p.m. The Countdown to Tip-off show begins at 7:30 p.m. on WEIO, 100.9 and at: https://www.thefarmradio.com/
Friday - November 29th
12pm – (2) Campbellsville (82) (14) MNU (Mid America Nazarene) (61)
2pm – (8) Westmont (66) (11) Shawnee State (64)
4pm- (10) Vanguard (94) (9) Columbia (59)
6pm- (16) Bethel (68) (5) Wayland Baptist (76) OT
8pm – (1) FHU (68) 13) Talladega (77)
Saturday - November 30th
12pm (8) Westmont v (2) Campbellsville
2pm (14) MNU v. (11) Shawnee State
4pm (10) Vanguard v. (13) Talladega
6pm (1) FHU v (5) Wayland Baptist
8pm (16) Bethel v. (9) Columbia
Live video:
https://boxcast.tv/view/naia-invitational-476862
Live stats:
http://www.dakstats.com/Websync/Pages/Webcasts.aspx?association=10
Live audio: Saturday Only
https://www.thefarmradio.com/
