MONMOUTH, IL – In a physical Midwest Conference showdown this afternoon, the Beloit College Buccaneers (5-15, 2-9 MWC) displayed remarkable resilience and fourth-quarter grit, though they ultimately fell to Monmouth College 75-65 at Glennie Gymnasium.
While the final score favored the Scots (7-13, 3-8 MWC), the story of the game was defined by Beloit's refusal to quit, punctuated by a dominant scoring performance from Hailey Johnson (South Milwaukee, Wis.) and a furious late-game rally that forced Monmouth to fight until the final buzzer.
Senior standout Johnson was the engine of the Beloit offense. Johnson turned in a stellar performance, leading all scorers with 20 points on an efficient 8-of-15 shooting. She was particularly lethal from beyond the arc, knocking down 4-of-6 three-pointers. Beyond her scoring, Johnson was a defensive force, recording a team-high 3 blocks and hauling in 6 rebounds, proving her status as one of the most versatile players on the court.
Johnson was supported by Aina Mallorqui (Valls, Spain), who finished with 13 points and 4 rebounds. Mallorqui was instrumental in the Buccaneers' late-game surge, scoring 10 of her 13 points in the final ten minutes. Meanwhile, Kaitlin Davis (Platte City, Mo.) played the role of defensive pest, recording a game-high 6 steals and showing elite poise at the charity stripe by converting 9 of her 12 free-throw attempts.
The game opened with Beloit in total control. The Buccaneers jumped out to an early 7-2 lead just five minutes into the first quarter, utilizing a balanced attack to keep Monmouth off balance. However, the momentum shifted in the second quarter as Monmouth's defense tightened, holding Beloit to just 8 points in the period and allowing the Scots to take a 35-23 lead into the locker room.
The deficit grew as large as 19 points in the second half, but the Buccaneers saved their best basketball for the final frame.
Refusing to go quietly, Beloit ignited an 11-0 scoring run in the fourth quarter. This momentum shift was sparked by the defensive intensity of Davis and a barrage of baskets from Johnson and Mallorqui. During this stretch, the Buccaneers outscored the Scots 25-20 in the final period, showcasing the high-octane offensive potential that has defined their most competitive stretches this season.
Beloit's depth was also a significant factor in keeping the game within reach. The Buccaneer bench provided a massive spark, contributing 27 points to the total effort. This bench production allowed Beloit to maintain high energy levels during their late-game comeback attempt, outperforming Monmouth's reserves in several key stretches.
The Buccaneers return to Flood Arena on Wednesday to host Lake Forest. Tip off between the Bucs and Foresters is set for 7:30 pm.
