Late Rally Stalls in Wildcats’ 72-67 Setback to Mount Mercy in Heart Opener

BALDWIN CITY - A fourth-quarter surge brought Baker within a single possession down the stretch, but the Wildcats couldn't erase a late deficit in a 72-67 loss to Mount Mercy here Saturday in the Collins Center in the first game of the Heart of America Athletic Conference season.

The contest stayed tight for most of the afternoon, with neither team leading by more than six until a Mustangs run in the middle of the third pushed the margin to double digits. Baker battled back behind defensive pressure and timely scoring, trimming a 15-point hole to five in the final minute before the visitors closed it out at the line.

Baker shot just under 40 percent from the floor (38.5%) but made its living at the line, where the Wildcats drained a season-high 24 free throws. BU matched its exact free-throw percentage from Wednesday's win at McPherson at 85.7 percent, reinforcing one of the team's most reliable early-season strengths.

While free throws were a notable factor, the difference in the game came from the three-point arc, where Mount Mercy totaled nine threes on the day compared to just three from BU's end. The Wildcats were coming off a season-best seven triples from their game against the Bulldogs.

Gabby Rose led BU in scoring with a season-high 29 points, going 15-for-16 at the stripe and adding two made threes. Taniya Tease scored 11 with three assists and four steals, and Amaya Barnes provided nine points on 4-of-6 shooting. Rihanna Blanchard posted six points and five rebounds, while Kennedy Bryan pulled down a team-high eight boards.

Baker opened strong with an 18-16 first quarter, sparked by early finishes from Blanchard and Tease and steady free-throw shooting from Rose. The Wildcats generated stops on three straight possessions late in the period, allowing them to hold the lead after a physical opening stretch.

Mount Mercy used four second-quarter threes to move in front 34-29 at the half, capitalizing on a cold-shooting stretch from the Wildcats. Baker created multiple quality chances inside during the quarter but couldn't convert enough at the rim to keep pace with a Mustangs squad that connected on four threes in the period.

The third quarter swung the momentum as MMU pieced together a 15-2 run that stretched the lead to 53-42, fueled by two threes and second-chance points. BU countered with well-executed drives from Tease and a strong stretch from Barnes on the glass to keep the Wildcats within striking distance.

Still, the Mustangs' burst - capped by back-to-back threes and a second-chance finish - left BU chasing the margin for the remainder of a period that has statistically been its toughest this season. Across the opening six games, the third quarter has been Baker's most challenging frame, with opponents outscoring the Wildcats 145-93 in that period.

The Wildcats made their strongest push early in the fourth, stringing together an 11-4 run sparked by back-to-back layups from Rose and a Blanchard steal that turned into a breakaway finish. Rose followed with a right-wing three, and Barnes capped the sequence with a game-tying layup off a sharp feed from Tease to pull BU even at 59-59.

Mount Mercy answered with key buckets of its own, including a deep three and a three-point play that slowed BU's late push. Rose hit six free throws in the final minute to keep the Wildcats within reach, and Baker executed well down the stretch to stay within a possession, but the Mustangs protected the lead with late free throws to earn the conference-opening win.

Up next, Baker kicks off a three-game road swing, with a matchup at Park on Wednesday, Nov. 19 at 5:30 p.m. in Parkville, Mo.

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