Women's Basketball Falls Short Against Pikeville

ATHENS, Tenn.- The women's basketball team fell short in a comeback attempt on Saturday. The team dropped their conference game against the University of Pikeville 73-67.

Tennessee Wesleyan had a tough start as Pikeville scored the first 21 points of the game. The Lady Bulldogs struggled to find their offensive rhythm. Anna Crowder and Jacelyn Stone tried to get the offense going, but turnovers missed opportunities allowed Pikeville to build a commanding 23-7 lead by the end of the quarter.

After a rough opening frame, Tennessee Wesleyan came alive in the second quarter. Talley Lawson sparked the offense with a three-pointer, and Crowder followed with another deep shot to cut into Pikeville's lead. The Lady Bulldogs' defense tightened up, forcing turnovers and limiting Pikeville's offensive efficiency. Alexis Bates and Julia Howard provided key contributions off the bench, while Stone converted crucial free throws to bring the game within reach. By halftime, the Lady Bulldogs had flipped the momentum, narrowing the deficit to just 36-35.

The third quarter remained a closely contested affair, with both teams trading baskets. Courtney Farr and Jaci Powell knocked down timely shots to keep Tennessee Wesleyan within striking distance. Pikeville, however, remained composed, relying on their inside presence to keep the Lady Bulldogs from taking full control. Despite a lower-scoring quarter for Wesleyan, they remained within reach, trailing just 50-47 heading into the final frame.

Tennessee Wesleyan continued to fight, with Powell and Crowder hitting key shots to keep the game close. A layup from Stone cut the deficit to just two points with under three minutes remaining, but Pikeville responded with a clutch three-pointer to extend their lead. Wesleyan had chances late, but a couple of missed opportunities and Pikeville's ability to convert free throws in the closing seconds sealed the 73-67 loss for the Bulldogs.

Lawson (15) and Howard (10) both finished with career-highs in points.

TWU (12-11, 9-9 AAC) returns to the road on Wednesday for an conference game against Kentucky Christian University on Wednesday. The road game is set to begin at 5:30 p.m.