Rose’s 24-Point Night Fuels Wildcats’ Big Road Win at Park, 74-65

PARKVILLE, Mo. - A 24-point performance from Gabby Rose paired with a 24-point final period powered Baker women's basketball to a 74-65 victory at Park on Wednesday in the Wildcats' first win of the conference season.

A couple of buzzer-beaters from Rose helped the Wildcats take a five-point lead at the half, and the visitors held steady in the third quarter - a period that has haunted them previously this year. BU saved its best 10-minute stretch for last, posting 24 points in the fourth quarter to pull away late and earn its second straight road win.

Baker shot at a blistering rate in Parkville, turning in a season-best 49 percent from the floor (26-of-53) while once again capitalizing at the foul line with a 17-for-20 showing. The Wildcats have shot 85 percent from the charity stripe in each of their last three games now.

Rose's 24 points led all scorers as the sophomore guard went 8-for-8 from the line to notch her second straight 20-point game. Skye Pepp provided a big spark in the second half, scoring 13 of her 15 points in the final two quarters on top of dishing out a team-high five assists. Mariah Dightman (14) and Taniya Tease (12) each reached double figures in scoring as well, with both players knocking down one of BU's five 3-pointers in the game.

An old-fashioned three-point play from Dightman and a three from Tease helped keep the Wildcats in lockstep with the Pirates at 12-12 in the opening quarter. After a late offensive putback from Park, Rose drilled the first of her back-to-back buzzer beaters, with this one coming from behind the arc to tie the game at 18-all at the end of the first period.

Tease hit a layup and then found Dightman for a triple to give Baker a three-point advantage in the second quarter. Kennedy Bryan and Lauren Berg chipped in buckets as the Wildcats took their biggest lead of the half at 29-22. The Pirates cut it to three again before Rose delivered another last-second blow - this time on a layup after some late scrambling - to give BU a 35-30 lead at the break.

Park came out and tied the game early in the second half before Pepp started to take charge for BU. Her jumper, along with points from Rose and Dightman, helped the Wildats build their lead back out to six. The Pirates inched closer late, though, to trim BU's lead to 50-46 going into the final frame.

The Pirates hit a three to make it a one-point game and then another one a little bit later to go in front by one at 57–56 with 6:37 left to play. Baker came back with its biggest stretch of the night, reeling off nine straight points, including a banked three and a breakaway layup from Pepp, to take a 65-57 lead.

The Wildcats stretched their cushion all the way out to 13 points on a handful of free throws and baskets from Amaya Barnes and Rihanna Blanchard, finishing off their second win in three games on a final score of 74-65.

Both of BU's victories this year have come on the road after the Wildcats won last week at McPherson, 59-46. They are 2-1 in road games this season, but are still seeking their first win in the Collins Center.

Up next, Baker will look to stay hot on the road and travel to Marshall, Mo., to take on Missouri Valley on Saturday, Nov. 22, at 5:30 p.m.

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