Wildcats Drop Two Games at Holiday Inn Express Classic

BALDWIN CITY, Kan. – With just one more non-conference game before Heart play begins, the Baker women's basketball team competed this past weekend in the Holiday Inn Express Classic where they fell to UHSP and Holy Cross.

Baker first faced off with UHSP on Friday evening. Emma Cunningham was Baker's leading scorer with 15 points, while Leah Van Weelden also reached double figures with 10 points. Cunningham also pulled down seven boards in the game, while Matalina Ochoa was second on the team with five rebounds.

Baker got their first basket of the game three minutes in and trailed 3-2, but the Eutectics went on 9-0 run to hold a 12-2 lead with 4:15 left in the first quarter. Ochoa was able to score late in the quarter as the Wildcats cut the lead to 16-8 heading into quarter two.

With the Wildcats trailing 21-11 early in the second quarter, Baker held the Eutectics scoreless for almost six minutes as they fought their way back and took a 22-21 lead on a bucket from Van Weelden. One small run by UHSP before the half had Baker trailing 28-23 at the break.

After a strong third quarter from UHSP gave the Eutectics a 10-point lead going into the fourth quarter, they would continue to stretch that lead until eventually coming away with the 68-42 win.

Baker then turned around and faced Holy Cross on Friday in Atchison. Once again, Cunningham led the team with 19 points, but this time Ochoa was second on the team in scoring with 16.

For most of the first quarter, both teams traded points. Late in the quarter, Baker was able to stretch out a slim lead and a bucket by Katelyn Cole gave Baker a 23-18 lead after the first quarter.

It was over six minutes into the second quarter when the Saints scored in the quarter as Baker had stretched their lead to 32-18. Baker continued to add to that lead until halftime, taking a 38-24 lead into the second half.

The Saints worked hard in the third quarter to get themselves back into the game and with three seconds left in the quarter had cut the lead to just one point, 44-43.

Baker quickly pushed the lead back to five, but the Saints eventually took the lead at 58-57 with 2:56 to play. Baker was never able to regain the lead as they lost to Holy Cross, 66-61.

Baker is now 0-3 on the season. They will be back in action on Tuesday, Nov. 7, as they travel to Ottawa, Kan., to take on the Braves at 4:00 p.m.

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