BELOIT, WI – In a post-holiday matchup at Flood Arena this afternoon, the Beloit College Buccaneers (4-7, 1-1 MWC) faced off against North Park University (4-7, 0-2 CCIW) in a non-conference defensive battle. Despite a standout, multi-faceted performance from Hailey Johnson (South Milwaukee, Wis.), the Buccaneers were unable to overcome an early deficit, eventually falling 63-41.

The story of the game for Beloit was senior forward Hailey Johnson. Johnson was a force on both ends of the floor, leading the Buccaneers with 20 points. She was nearly perfect from the charity stripe, knocking down 8 of 9 free throws, and hauled in 8 rebounds.

Most impressively, Johnson served as a defensive eraser in the paint, recording a staggering 6 blocks. Her presence at the rim kept Beloit within striking distance for much of the middle periods, forcing North Park to adjust their offensive approach.

Supporting Johnson were Kaitlin Davis (Platte City, Mo.) and Bailey Darneal (Colorado Springs, CO), who each contributed 8 points. Davis added 5 rebounds and 3 steals to the effort, while Darneal showcased her range by hitting two of Beloit's three-pointers on the afternoon.

The game began as a hill for Beloit to climb. The Vikings ignited a 12-0 run early in the first quarter, utilizing a high-pressure defense that forced the Buccaneers into several early miscues. By the end of the first period, Beloit trailed 23-13.

However, the second quarter saw a significant shift in momentum. Beloit's defense tightened, led by Johnson's rim protection. The Buccaneers put together a 6-0 scoring run late in the half, capped by efficient free-throw shooting, to cut into the North Park lead. At the break, the Bucs had stabilized the game, trailing 40-23.

Beloit's most competitive stretch came in the third quarter. The Buccaneers went toe-to-toe with the Vikings, losing the period by a slim 15-12 margin. During this stretch, the Bucs found success in the paint and continued to draw fouls, shooting a collective 92.3% from the free-throw line on the day.

The momentum stalled for both teams in a gritty fourth quarter. Scoring became a premium as both defenses locked in. While Beloit held North Park to their lowest-scoring quarter of the game (8 points), the Buccaneers struggled to find their rhythm on the perimeter, shooting just 8.3% from the field in the final ten minutes.

North Park's victory was largely fueled by their ability to capitalize on turnovers, turning 25 Beloit giveaways into 24 points. The Vikings were led by Aliyah Hershberger, who finished with 22 points.

The Buccaneers return to action on Saturday, January 3rd in Jacksonville, Illinois. Saturday's game was resecheduled from earlier this season. Tip off from Sherman Gymnasium between the Buccaneers and Lady Blues is set for 3 pm.