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Lady Cats Stun Austin Peay in Monday Exhibition
Posted: Nov 04, 2024

Lady Cats Stun Austin Peay in Monday Exhibition

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – The Bethel Lady Wildcats, fresh off their season opening win over Milligan College, turned their attention to exhibition play Tuesday traveling to Austin Peay.

Bethel led the Lady Govs 12-4 after the first quarter, but APSU rallied outscoring the Lady Cats 32-14 in the second quarter to take a 36-25 at the half.

The F&M Bank Arena crowd had no idea what was about to happen. The Cats turned the tables on the home team with a stunning 39-16 second half advantage to win 64-52. The deal was consummated with a 23-4 fourth quarter margin by Bethel. The Cats won 64-52.

The Lady Cats came out strong in the first quarter, jumping to that 12-4 lead. Freshman guard Micah Hart and Sophomore guard Kylie Reynolds were key contributors in the opening frame, each putting up five points. Hart's calm yet assertive leadership on the floor set the pace, while Reynolds showed off her scoring ability with quick moves to the basket and a smooth mid-range jumper. The defense was also active, with the Lady Cats capitalizing on turnovers, with Madison Hart adding five points off steals and forced errors. By the end of the first quarter, the Lady Cats had established an eight-point lead.

However, the second quarter saw a dramatic shift in momentum. The Governors, eager to make a statement of their own, came out firing and outscored the Lady Cats 32-13 in the period. Austin Peay's offense clicked into gear, exploiting gaps in the Lady Cats' defense and hitting shots from all over the floor. The Lady Cats struggled to maintain their defensive intensity, and turnovers began to pile up, leading to fast-break points for the Governors.

At halftime, the Lady Cats found themselves trailing 36-25. Despite the tough second quarter, the Lady Cats could still hold their heads high thanks to some bright spots on the scoreboard. Reynolds, who had been one of the team's top scorers early, led the team with seven points at the break. While the offense had cooled, the team was still shooting a solid 37.5% from the field and 40% from beyond the arc, a promising sign for what was to come.

In the locker room at halftime, Coach Nelson emphasized composure and resilience. "We've shown we can compete, but now it's about maintaining our focus and staying together," he told his team" Nelson added, "We've got 20 minutes left—let's make it count."

The Lady Cats entered the third quarter with renewed energy, determined to close the gap. Despite their efforts, Austin Peay's lead proved difficult to overcome, but the Lady Cats weren't backing down. Reynolds and Hart continued to lead, and Alexander's sharp shooting kept the team within striking distance. By the end of the third quarter, the Lady Cats had closed the gap significantly, trailing by only seven points, 48-41. 

Going into the final quarter, the Lady Cats were within striking distance, and they knew they had the tools to finish strong. It was the start of the quarter where the Lady Cats really turned up the heat. They came out on a 7-0 run, tying the game at 48-48. The momentum shift was undeniable. A charge drawn by MJ Simmons was a huge swing in the fourth. Senior guard Kalynn Howard gave the Cats a 51-48 margin. Extending the lead was Mikee Buchanan with the next three points. A clutch basket by Buchanan to stretch the lead back to 56-50. Howard scored the next four points from the charity stripe. With Simmons, sealing the deal with the final two free throws, to the run score to 64- 52. 

The Lady Wildcats' victory in their exhibition opener was a statement win, one that demonstrated their ability to bounce back from adversity and their potential to compete with top-tier teams. With standout performances from Kylie Reynolds, Micah Hart, and a strong bench contribution from Kylie Alexander, the Wildcats proved they have the depth and talent to make an impact this season.

As the team celebrated their win, the Lady Wildcats left the court knowing that this exhibition game was just the beginning of what promises to be an exciting season. The foundation was set, and the team was hungry for more success in the games ahead.

Final Stats:

Lady Cats shot 34% from the floor, 42.9% from beyond the arc, and 82.8 from the charity stripe.

Coach Chris Nelson commented, "We are proud of the result, but more importantly proud of the growth and staying the course. The game was a grind on the defensive end. The second quarter got away from us a little bit, but our ladies settled in at half. Our team does not show a lot of emotion and to be a young group they keep their composure pretty well. We have a lot to work on both ends of the floor, but we have players that can create their own shots and sit down and guard when they want to. Down the stretch we kept it simple and didn't run much and just had players make key plays."  

Bethel jumps back into regular season action Friday and Saturday in the Campbellsville Classic. Watch for game previews later at www.bethelathletic.com

Recap by Derrick Hubble- SID Staff