Kentucky Wesleyan women’s basketball (11-8, G-MAC 7-7) survived for an 85-80 win over the Tiffin Dragons (7-15, G-MAC 2-12) on Thursday at the Owensboro Sportscenter.
Myah Montgomery scored a career-high 23 points while also pulling down five rebounds.
KWC’s Sydnee Richetto drilled a pull-up jumper within the first sixty seconds of the opening tip. Tiffin started hot, going up 10-2 early. KWC went on an 11-2 run with threes from Riley Neal and Carson Sisk. Arielle Dabu made another three to give the Panthers a 26-25 lead at the end of the first quarter. Both teams shot over 60% in the quarter.
Sisk and Neal made early layups as the fast pace of the first quarter continued into the second. Vilborg Jonsdottir scored two straight buckets in the paint. Montgomery scored five straight to extend the Wesleyan lead to six with just over three minutes remaining in the first half. The Dragons finished on a 7-3 run to make it a two-point contest at halftime.
Neal scored the last five Panther points as Wesleyan dominated the third quarter 24-13 to go up 72-59.
The Dragons came roaring back in the final quarter. A 7-0 run in the latter part of the quarter brought Tiffin within six points, and a 3-pointer with 14 seconds left got Tiffin within three.
Richetto iced the game at the charity stripe.
Neal finished with 21 points and six rebounds. Dabu scored ten and pulled down eight boards. Richetto added nine points, five rebounds, and five assists.
KWC women will get a rematch with Hillsdale on Saturday at 12 p.m. at the Sportscenter, seeking revenge for last Saturday’s loss on the road.
