Women’s Basketball Falls on the Road at Graceland in Season Finale

LAMONI, Iowa - The Baker women's basketball team put up a strong fight in its conference road matchup at Graceland, but ultimately fell to the Yellowjackets, 74-69, on Saturday in the Wildcats' final game of the 2025-26 season.

BU erased an eight-point halftime deficit with a big third-quarter push that saw the Wildcats tie the game going into the final quarter. Despite several BU rallies, the Yellowjackets were able to hold on in the fourth and come away with the narrow victory.

Gabby Rose notched a team-high 20 points, while Taniya Tease and Corrine Cole each had 13 points apiece. Tease, one of two seniors for BU, finished one rebound shy of a double-double and flirted with a triple-double with a season-high eight assists. Kennedy Bryan joined her teammates in double figures with 10 points.

It was a slow start in Lamoni for the Wildcats with their first points coming on a jumper by Bryan just over three minutes into the contest. Rose and Tease chipped in to the early scoring as well as Graceland built up an 11-point lead in the opening quarter.

BU responded with a solid stretch to close the frame, riding a nice stretch from Rose, who drilled her first three of the game, and then getting a bucket off the bench from Lydia Cobler to make it 19-13 in favor of GU after the first period.

Nevaeh Leeks got an easy basket off a nice dish from Maddie Wilbeck to start the second quarter before Wilbeck's breakaway layup a minute later made it a one-point game. A three from Cole helped Baker withstand a seven-point counter-punch by Graceland.

A string of four straight free throws from Rose and Lauren Berg brought the 'Cats within one again, but the Yellowjackets claimed nine of the final 11 points of the half to go into the break with a 37-29 lead.

In the third quarter, Cole and Bryan connected on back-to-back shots with Bryan draining hers from deep. Mariah Dightman turned a steal into an easy bucket and Cole's second trey of the day tied the game at 39-39.

Byran followed with another three to give the Wildcats their first lead of the game, a margin that would stretch to as many as six points with Leeks and Rose helping pad the lead. Graceland once again put up another strong finish late, coming back to send the game to the fourth quarter with both teams tied at 47-47.

The decisive quarter featured each side trading buckets through the early going with the Yellojackets taking a slight lead that BU continuously battled to overcome throughout the frame. Tease brought the Wildcats within two on back-to-back possessions, burying a three and then getting a layup to fall to make the score 59-57 with 5:56 left to play.

The Yellowjackets remained in control in the final six minutes despite a couple of big shots from Baker's end. Cole's 3-pointer made it a three-point game with over two minutes left, but the hosts went down and immediately got a layup to squash the momentum.

Graceland made five of its six free throws down the stretch and was able to hold off the Wildcats' comeback charge to hang on to the 74-69 victory.

Baker closes out the 2025-26 season with a 4-23 record overall and a 2-18 mark in conference play.

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