Wildcats Fall to Ravens in Return Trip to Collins

BALDWIN CITY - After playing on the road for the last three games, Baker women's basketball returned to the Collins Center on Wednesday night, falling to (RV) Benedictine, 85-57, in the first of a four-game home stretch for BU.

The Wildcats hung around in the first half until a late run in the second quarter gave the Ravens a comfortable halftime lead. BU responded with a solid third quarter to keep things interesting, but BC closed with a dominant fourth quarter to spoil the home return for the Wildcats

Benedictine tallied 10 total 3-pointers and boasted a 20-10 edge in offensive rebounds, resulting in 23 second-chance points. Baker went a perfect 10-for-10 at the free-throw line, improving on its season mark of 74.8 percent, which ranks fourth best in the conference.

After falling short of the three-point record by one on Saturday, Kennedy Bryan notched a team-best 16 points with four 3-pointers and went 4-for-4 at the line. Gabby Rose also made all four of her foul shots and finished with 15 points, while Mariah Dightman had 10 points to go along with five rebounds and two assists.

Bryan got off to another hot start in the Wildcats' first appearance in Collins in two weeks, hitting three of her first four shots from deep to push Baker out in front early, 11-10. Rose added to the early three-point party with her only three of the game and Corrine Cole scored on a second-chance bucket.

The Ravens matched Bryan's opening stretch with four 3-pointers from their end to take a 26-18 lead after the first quarter.

In the second period, a three-point play on its first possession sparked a 10-4 run for Benedictine to begin the frame. Taniya Tease swung a nice pass over the top to find Dightman for an easy layup as Baker tried to weather the second-quarter storm.

Benedictine used another pair of triples to extend its lead down the stretch, with the latter one capping the halftime score at 49-30 in favor of the visitors.

Bryan's fourth 3-pointer of the ballgame got BU off on the right foot in the second half as the Wildcats would go on to outscore BC, 18-13, in the third quarter. Rose tallied four straight points before scoring another bucket with just over two minutes left. Amaya Barnes swished in a three and Cole followed with an easy layup a little bit later to cut the deficit to 13 at 59-46.

Leading by double digits heading into the final quarter, the Ravens scored a quick basket and then followed with back-to-back, back-breaking threes to push their lead past the 20-point margin. Kaylee Heinen came off the bench and drilled a couple of shots for BU as Benedictine closed out its road win.

Up next, Baker continues the homestand and will host a Senior Day matchup against Park on Saturday, Feb. 14, at 2 p.m. in the Collins Center. The Senior Day ceremony will take place between games.

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