Wildcats Fall Late to Bobcats, 67-60 in Regular-Season Finale

BALDWIN CITY, Kan. – Doomed by a 25-point final quarter from Peru State, the Baker women's basketball team suffered a 67-60 setback at the hands of the Bobcats here Saturday afternoon in the Collins Center to close out the 2022-23 regular season.

As part of Senior Day, the Wildcats recognized seniors Macey Frost, Brooke Habeck, Emina Hadzihusejnovic, Emmery Joseph, Ainsley Tolson, Leah Van Weelden and Chassidy Weathers for their dedication to the program over the last few years.

In a game that featured neither team gaining a double-digit lead, Baker led the tight-knit contest for most of the game, but Peru State sank nine free throws down the stretch to steal the game away from the Wildcats. Both sides shot the ball about the same with Baker carrying a slight advantage at 40-percent while the Bobcats shot 38.2-percent.

Emma Cunningham notched a 17-point outing and added nine rebounds to lead BU. Sophia Barrett (13), Tolson (11) and Weathers (10) all finished in double figures as well.

Tolson celebrated a career milestone right off the bat, recording her 1,400th career point after scoring the first two points for Baker. The senior guard delivered a highlight-reel moment just a few minutes later after slinging a nifty behind-the-back pass to Cunningham on a fast-break layup as Cunningham scored six straight points to give the Wildcats an early 10-4 lead.

Trailing by one in the final minute of the opening quarter, Weathers drained a corner three at the buzzer to put Baker back on top, 15-13.

In the second quarter, Frost swished her 20th triple of the season to break the tie, but the Bobcats would regain the lead as both sides traded baskets for most of the period. With 17 seconds left before halftime, Barrett converted a tough basket on a fast break to make it a two-point ballgame again with BU leading 29-27 at the intermission.

Following the break, Cunningham and Tolson teamed up early in the second half to finally build a little bit of a cushion, beginning with Cunningham firing one to Tolson on a backdoor layup and Tolson returning the favor on the next trip down to find Cunningham underneath for a quick bucket.

After three Peru State free throws made it 33-30, Weathers extend the lead right back to six points with another one from downtown following an offensive board by Barrett. With 3:44 left in the quarter, Tolson produced the game's largest lead with a layup to put the Wildcats ahead, 41-32. The Bobcats responded with a 10-2 run to close the period and make it a one-point game going into the fourth quarter.

The Bobcats reclaimed the lead on the first play of the quarter, but Weathers' third three of the game a couple of minutes later swung the advantage back to the home side. PSC tied the game right back up with a three of its own.

With the score 54-54 and just under four minutes left in the game, the Bobcats went on a devastating stretch, scoring seven unanswered points for their biggest lead. The Wildcats battled their way to make a late-game run as well and a Barrett three with :30 seconds left brought the score within four. Baker's last-ditch efforts would fall short though as Peru State held on to take the regular-season finale, 67-60.

The Wildcats (13-14, 9-13 HAAC) wrap up a regular season that saw them finish with their most wins since 2018-19. Having already locked in their spot with Wednesday's win against William Penn, the Wildcats draw the No. 8 seed in the Heart of America Conference Tournament and will face top-seed Central Methodist on Wednesday, Feb. 22 at 7 p.m. in Fayette, Mo.

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