The Baker University Wildcats women’s basketball teams opened up their season on the road in the KCAC Classic hosted at University of St. Mary in Leavenworth, Kan.

The Wildcats played two games in the tournament. On Fri. Nov. 1 the Wildcats took on the host team, University of St. Mary Spires and won 52-42.

In the first quarter, the game was tied 4-4 before the Spires went on a 4-0 run to make it 8-4. The Wildcats managed to tie the game at 10 before the Spires went on another 4-0 run to take a 14-10 lead at the end of the first quarter.

The Wildcats then went on a run of their own while the Wildcat defense stood strong, holding the Spires scoreless for over five minutes. Wildcats took the lead 19-14. St. Mary’s worked their way back into the game before halftime taking the lead 24-22 going into half.

The third quarter went back and forth between the teams as neither side could get their offense going. Mid way through the third quarter the Wildcats held a 30-29 lead and the score would be 34-32 in favor of the Wildcats headed into the fourth and final quarter.

The fourth quarter was close between the teams before the Wildcats started to pull away with only a couple minutes left. Madison Becker pushed the Wildcat lead to eight and the Wildcat’s never looked back. The Wildcats would go on to win 52-42 to open up their season.

The Wildcats were led by Smith, Becker and Abby Bird who all scored in the double digits to lead the Wildcat offense.  Jones also dominated defensively against the Spires.

The Wildcats were on the road again on Sat. Nov. 2 against Ottawa University in the KCAC Classic in Leavenworth, Kan.

The Ottawa University Braves caught the Wildcats off guard to start the game and the Braves took a commanding 12-0 lead to start the game. The Wildcats would chip away at the hole they were in and ended the first quarter trailing 15-11.

The Wildcats took control in the second quarter and took the lead after a three pointer from Bird to give the Wildcats a 24-22 lead. The Wildcats then went on a 4-1 run to lead 28-23 going into the half.

The Wildcats continued that momentum coming out of halftime and led 39-30 midway through the third quarter. Going into the fourth quarter the score was 50-43.

The Braves clawed their way back into the game and eventually took the lead after a clutch three pointer. The Wildcats regained the lead 63-62 after Smith was fouled while the Wildcats were inbounding the ball. The foul sent Smith to the free throw line where she nailed the shot to give the Wildcats the 63-62 victory over the Braves.

The Wildcats are now 2-0 on the season and their next game is at the Collins Center on Nov. 8 against Friends University at 6 p.m.