BELOIT, WI – In a physical Midwest Conference clash at Flood Arena this afternoon, the Beloit College Buccaneers displayed immense grit and interior dominance, ultimately falling to Cornell College 63-49. Despite the final score, the Buccaneers (5-13,2-7 MWC) proved they could control the glass and go toe-to-toe with one of the conference's top-tier teams.
The story of the game for Beloit was the relentless play of their frontcourt. Two Buccaneers recorded double-doubles, anchoring the team on both ends of the floor: Hailey Johnson (South Milwaukee, Wis.) was a force of nature, logging nearly the entire game (38:36). She led the Bucs with 15 points and pulled down 10 rebounds. Her ability to draw fouls and convert at the line (3-3 FT) kept the Buccaneers within striking distance during high-pressure moments. Kaitlin Davis (Platte City, Mo.) was equally impressive, providing a massive spark in the paint. She finished with 14 points and a team-high 11 rebounds. Davis was the catalyst for Beloit's second-chance opportunities, accounting for four of the team's 11 offensive boards.
Complementing the interior play was Aina Mallorqui (Valls, Spain), who provided a much-needed perimeter threat, hitting two of the team's seven three-pointers to finish with 8 points. On the defensive end, Julia Kennedy (South Milwaukee, WI) was a pest for the Rams (11-5,5-3 MWC), recording a game-high 4 steals and 7 rebounds.
The Buccaneers showed early that they weren't intimidated, jumping out to an early 3-point lead in the first quarter behind disciplined defense that held Cornell to just 9 points in the opening period.
The most significant momentum shift occurred midway through the second quarter. Trailing 14-7, Beloit ignited an 8-0 scoring run. During this stretch, the Bucs' defense tightened, forcing turnovers that led to easy transition opportunities. This surge effectively erased the deficit and forced a tie at 14-14, electrifying the home crowd at Flood Arena.
Beloit went into the locker room at halftime trailing by only six (28-22), having successfully limited Cornell's high-octane offense for much of the first half.
While the Buccaneers struggled with their field goal percentage (27.3%), they remained in the game through sheer technical execution and discipline. Beloit was nearly perfect from the charity stripe, shooting a staggering 92.3% (12-13) from the free-throw line.
Beloit also won the battle of "Second Chance Points," outscoring the Rams 11-4 in that category. This reflects the "never-quit" attitude of the roster, as they consistently fought for loose balls and extended possessions.
The Buccaneers stay home and in conference for their next matchup. The Grinnell College Pioneers come to Flood Arena on Tuesday. Tip off is set for 7:30 pm.
