Wildcats Fall to Ottawa at Home in Monday Night Matchup

BALDWIN CITY - Baker women's basketball dropped its second game of the young season Monday night, falling 91-56 to Ottawa in a non-conference matchup inside the Collins Center.

The Wildcats kept things tight through the opening quarter and trailed by just six midway through the second before Ottawa used a late first-half push and a big third quarter to break the game open.

The Braves shot 47 percent from the field (34-72) and turned 26 Baker turnovers into 30 points to steadily extend their lead after halftime. As a team, the Wildcats shot 31 percent from the field (15-48) and 71 percent at the line (20-28), while Ottawa finished with a 47-33 rebounding advantage.

Skye Pepp led Baker with eight points, four rebounds, and four assists, while Gabby Rose and Kaylee Heinen each scored nine points. Taniya Tease filled the stat sheet with seven points, five boards, and four steals, and Rihanna Blanchard added seven points off the bench.

Baker came out with energy, opening the night with a three-pointer from Rose and a midrange jumper from T. Tease to grab an early lead. The Wildcats stayed within striking distance through much of the first quarter before Ottawa connected on a pair of late triples to take a 20-14 edge after one.

In the second period, Heinen sparked the Wildcats off the bench with a deep three, while Blanchard and Kennedy Bryan capitalized at the free throw line to keep BU within reach. But a late surge from Ottawa closed out the half, sending Baker to the locker room trailing 40-25 after the Braves converted several turnovers into fast-break points.

Ottawa put together its best quarter in the third, shooting 68 percent from the field during the stretch to widen its lead. Baker continued to battle, with Amaya Barnes finishing a layup through contact and Rose adding a midrange jumper, but the Braves' efficiency and depth proved too much as the margin grew heading into the fourth.

The Wildcats finished on a strong note in the final period, stringing together their best offensive stretch of the night. Pepp and Blanchard converted on back-to-back baskets before Heinen knocked down her second three-pointer of the game and Mari Tease added another one from deep. Freshman Ku'liciah Wallace capped the scoring with a driving layup in the closing minute as the final score settled at 91-56.

BU has shown early signs of balanced scoring across its lineup, with nine different players scoring against Ottawa and eight finding the scoresheet in Thursday's season opener against Friends.

Up next, Baker plays its first set of games away from Baldwin City, taking part in the Bethel Classic on Thursday (Nov. 6) and Friday (Nov. 7) in Newton, Kan. The Wildcats will face off against Kansas Wesleyan on Thursday at 4 p.m. before taking on the hosts, the Threshers, on Friday at 6 p.m.

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