11/30/07

The Wildcats couldn’t claw their way over the mound Southwestern College built Monday in Collins Center as they fell 65-59 in the team’s home opener.

The Moundbuilders held a slim three-point advantage going into the break 31-28.

Southwestern came out of the locker room firing on all cylinders in the second half.

However, the ‘Cats wouldn’t die and went on a run of their own taking the lead late in the game.

Sophomore Tayler Stacks said the Wildcats started to believe as the game went on.

“We were battling as hard as we could to get the lead back,” she said. “I think the more shots we made, the more confident we got.”

In spite of this, the fatal flaw for Baker would be its missed opportunities at the free throw line, sophomore Kendra Schaefer said.

“We didn’t get to the line enough, and when we did we just didn’t connect,” she said. “We just have to work to improve at the line, and we will win those close games late in the season.”

The ‘Cats hit just four free throws on 12 attempts, while Southwestern connected on 17 of its 24 free throw attempts.

Junior Kaitlin Schneden led the way for Baker, with 19 points. Senior Allie Heinen had 14 points.

In an exhibition game Nov. 20 Baker took on Washburn University. Behind a school record 15 three-pointers, the Lady Blues rolled to an 84-39 win over the ‘Cats.

Playing in the Kansas Wesleyan Classic Baker outlasted Kansas Wesleyan University, and won, 64-63, Nov. 17 in Salina.

Down by one with less than 20 seconds, Schneden hit the game-winning jumper with just 15.3 seconds left.

Schneden said it took a solid team effort to come away with a win on the road against a great opponent.

One night earlier, the Wildcats overcame a 12-point deficit with six minutes left to beat Bethany College.

Baker went on a 19-0 run to close out the game and won 59-52.

The ‘Cats hosted William Jewell College Thursday. Results were unavailable at presstime.

Baker faces Avila University at 2 p.m. Saturday at Collins Center.