It was a tale of two halves for the Baker women’s basketball team Tuesday in Collins Center against Friends University.

The first was a turnover-ridden 20 minutes that put the ‘Cats 11 points down to the Falcons at the break. Susan Decker’s squad turned in a stellar performance in the second half, however, that fueled a comeback to give the Wildcats their first victory of the season, 60-55.

Baker opened the game cold from both the free throw line and 3-point range as the women shot 0-4 and 0-7, respectively. The squad maintained a slim rebounding advantage over the Falcons at 22-19, but the Wildcats were unable to convert several put-back opportunities.

“In the first half, we tried to come down against that zone and jack up threes, and we weren’t getting the ball inside,” Decker said. “So when that happens, you’re shooting yourself in the foot twice because you’re not knocking down shots or getting your posts touches.”

Junior Emily Gibson said Decker addressed the problem and the squad was able to fix it in the second half.

“We knew we really needed to look inside after that first half,” Gibson said. “And we did.”

The second half started much like the first as Friends' Alyson Snell buried two 3-pointers.<br/>But the Wildcats were able to hang with the Falcons by eliminating costly turnovers – BU had 14 in the first half – and by finishing their chances. Baker shot 47 percent from the field in the second half compared to 32 in the first, and turned the ball over just four times.But the Wildcats were able to hang with the Falcons by eliminating costly turnovers – BU had 14 in the first half – and by finishing their chances. Baker shot 47 percent from the field in the second half compared to 32 in the first, and turned the ball over just four times.
But the Wildcats were able to hang with the Falcons by eliminating costly turnovers – BU had 14 in the first half – and by finishing their chances. Baker shot 47 percent from the field in the second half compared to 32 in the first, and turned the ball over just four times.

“We slowed down in the second half offensively,” Decker said. “I thought Jenna (Brantley) played extremely well in the second half. I think she only had one turnover and had 10 assists. So she really ran us from an offensive standpoint and got us all on the same page.”

Baker took its first lead of the second half with 6:21 remaining after a series of Cameron Roland and Brantley steals, and finishes from Gibson and fellow post Aubree Gustin.

Gustin, a junior, finished with 10 points and 9 rebounds, while Gibson earned her first double-double of the season, tallying 17 points and 12 boards. The two combined for 27 of the team’s 40 second-half points.

The Wildcats (1-2) host Park University Friday in the Baker Classic.<br/>