Women's Basketball Drops Overtime Thriller against Bethel

COLUMBIA, Ky. - For the first time this season, the Lindsey Wilson women's basketball team tasted defeat. The squad fell in an overtime thriller at Biggers Sports Center to Bethel (Tenn.) by a final of 71-70.

Four Blue Raiders scored in double-figures this afternoon, led by Maleigha Oldham who corralled 21 points with four 3-pointers alongside five rebounds. Reagan Turner added 15 points next to eight rebounds. All the bench scoring for LWC came from Hailey Ison and Haeli Howard, with Ison tallying 12 points while going a perfect 6-of-6 from the free throw, and Howard putting in 10 points with six rebounds. Bree Glover just missed a double-double at eight points and nine rebounds in the loss.

For Bethel, the scoring came at the luxury of Tasia Jones and Mickey Head. Jones put in an impressive 24 points on the day alongside nine rebounds, while Head earned a double-double at 20 points and 12 rebounds. Jones and Head were the only players to score in double-figures for BU.

Shooting percentages for both teams were very similar in the overtime showdown. Lindsey Wilson shot a rough 32.8 percent from the field (20-of-61), but Bethel was only able to manage a 33.8 percent shooting mark (27-of-80). LWC shot an ice cold 20 percent from behind the arc (4-of-20), but BU shot just 20.7 percent from deep (6-of-29). Turnovers were alike as well this afternoon between the two squads, with the Blue Raiders having 18 while the Lady Wildcats had 20. A big stat difference during the game however was team rebounds, which Bethel won 56-to-45 on the glass.

In the first quarter, both teams were seen trading the lead back-and-forth with no clear favorite found. However, it was BU who prevailed by going on a strong 7-1 run at the end of the quarter to go up 18-13.

Despite the Blue Raiders regaining the lead by one point early in the second quarter, the Lady Wildcats refused to give in. Bethel climbed back into the driver's seat, leading by as much as eight at one point which eventually led to a 33-29 halftime advantage. Oldham scored a team-high eight points for LWC in the half.

BU held firm with a high single-digit lead most of the third quarter. Lindsey Wilson never let its deficit wander past single-digits, but found itself trailing 48-43 with just one quarter remaining.

The Lady Wildcats continued to produce just enough single-digit cushion in the fourth quarter to stay in the lead. However, It was Oldham drilling home back-to-back 3-pointers for the Blue Raiders that brought the game to a stalemate at the end of regulation.

The game was secured in overtime by Bethel thanks in part to the duo of Jones and Head, who had done almost everything all day for their team. Jones hit two clutch free throws late in the overtime while Head made a field goal on the next offensive possession to give her team a one point advantage in the closing seconds. A missed 3-pointer at the buzzer by Oldham gave BU the 71-70 road win, alongside the school's first ever Mid-South Conference basketball victory.

The Lindsey Wilson women's basketball team will return to the court on Friday, Nov. 27 to compete against Mount Vernon Nazarene (Ohio) beginning at 2 p.m. in the Thomas More University Classic. Please view the Thomas More Fan Attendance Policy for more information.