Box Score
NORTH NEWTON, Kan. – The Lady Braves fell to Bethel College, 86-74 on Saturday night at Thresher Gymnasium. Both teams shot over 40 percent from the floor for the game. 

The Lady Braves opened the first half on fire, missing only one shot in the first four minutes of play. Bethel was there shot for shot with OU and at the 15:35 mark Ottawa had a one point lead, 12-11. The score remained close until the OU defense clamped down and for the next three minutes held Bethel scoreless. During that stretch, OU built a six point lead and the Lady Braves were up 22-16 with 11:34 left in the half. The Threshers cut the Lady Brave lead to three, 22-19 but OU answered back and after a basket by Kylie Covey OU increased its lead to seven, 28-21. Again Bethel cut the OU lead to three and again the Lady Braves would answer. OU received back-to-back three point field goals from Emma Hartzler and Maggie Hasenkamp and had a nine point lead, 34-25 at the 6:41 mark. OU’s offense then hit a cold spell and for the next five minutes, Bethel went on a run, outscoring OU 15-5. Bethel took its first lead of the game, 40-39 at the 1:42 mark. The Lady Braves answered the challenge and after scoring the next five points on field goals by Mallory Mueller and Paige Gibson, OU retook the lead, 44-40 with just under a minute left. The Thresher’s connected on one of two free throws, cutting the OU lead to three, 44-41 with 26 seconds left. OU turned the ball over on its next offensive possession and Bethel was able to convert the opportunity, giving OU a one point lead at the half, 44-43. 

Bethel opened the second half taking the lead for the second time in the contest with a basket just 18 seconds in. OU answered with a Gibson jump shot on the baseline, retaking the lead, 46-45. Ottawa increased its lead to four points, 51-47 on a Myah Sprew layup with 16:24 left in regulation. The Lady Braves then went cold, being outscored by Bethel 14-3 and falling behind 62-54 with 12:02 on the clock. A Hasenkamp three at the 11:46 mark cut the deficit to five, 62-57 and on OU’s next offensive possession Covey connected on a layup to cut into the lead once more, 52-59. The Threshers answered with the next four points and pushed their lead to nine points, 68-58 with 9:09 left in the game. Bethel continued to maintain its lead and with 3:34 left the Threshers were up by 10, 77-67 with 3:34 on the clock. The Threshers closed out the game by scoring their final nine points at the free throw line and defeated OU, 86-74. 

The Lady Braves shot 50 percent from the floor, 26-52 while Bethel was 29-67 for 43 percent. The Lady Braves had a 36-24 edge in bench points while Bethel had a 38-24 lead in points in the paint. 

OU had four players in double figures led by Gibson’s 13 points on 4-8 shooting. Hasenkamp scored 12 points, and both Hartzler and Covey scored 11. KiKi Smith led OU with eight assists. 

Up next for the Lady Braves (3-17, 2-7) is a home game on Thursday, Jan. 28th in Wilson Field House versus McPherson College. Tip off is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.