MOUNT VERNON, Iowa – The Beloit College women's basketball team traveled to the Small Athletic and Wellness Center on this afternoon, putting up a resilient effort against a sharp-shooting Cornell College squad. While the Buccaneers (6-17,3-11 MWC) ultimately fell 73-42, the contest featured several high-water marks for the Bucs, including a gritty first-half performance and standout individual contributions from the bench.
Beloit entered the game ready to compete, matching the Rams (14-8,8-6 MWC) blow-for-blow in a high-energy first quarter. The Buccaneers found their rhythm early, trailing by just two points (18-16) at the end of the first period.
The most significant momentum shift occurred early in the second quarter. Trailing 18-9, Beloit ignited a massive 10-0 scoring run. During this stretch, the Buccaneer defense stifled the Rams while the offense found its flow, capped off by a basket that gave Beloit a 19-18 lead with 9:16 remaining in the half. This run showcased Beloit's ability to dominate in transition and capitalize on Cornell's turnovers, momentarily silencing the home crowd.
The Buccaneers were by a miz of veteran leadership and sparks off the bench. Hailey Johnson (South Milwaukee, Wis.) was a force of efficiency and poise. She finished the afternoon with 10 points and 5 rebounds. Most impressively, Johnson was perfect from the charity stripe, finishing 6-for-6 on free throws, proving to be a reliable anchor for the Bucs in the paint. Providing a vital spark from the bench, Kaitlin Davis (Platte City, Mo.) also notched 10 points. She proved to be a threat from the perimeter, knocking down two of Beloit's eight three-pointers and adding two assists to the stat sheet. Julia Kennedy (South Milwaukee, WI) was the team's workhorse, logging nearly 35 minutes of action and contributing 6 points. Brooke Foster (Machesney Park, Ill.) matched that 6-point total, connecting on two shots from beyond the arc to help keep the Bucs within striking distance during the first half.
One of the bright spots for the Bucs was the productivity of their bench. The Buccaneers' reserves outscored their counterparts in several stretches, finishing with 19 total bench points. This depth allowed Beloit to remain competitive through the first twenty minutes of play.
While Cornell found their shooting stroke in the third quarter—hitting 60% of their shots to pull away—Beloit refused to quit. The Buccaneers tightened their defense in the final period, holding the Rams to just 16 points while scoring 14 of their own. This late-game tenacity was fueled by a team-wide effort on the boards, with Beloit finishing the game with 33 total rebounds.
The Buccaneers will play their final home game of the 2025-26 season on Wednesday when they host Lawrence Univeristy at Flood Arena. Tip is set for 7:30 pm.
