WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

The Huntington women’s basketball team felt the wrath of #3 Indiana Wesleyan to the tune of a 94-63 loss Saturday afternoon at Luckey Arena. It was opening day of CL play with the Wildcats making sure they sent a message around the league why they were the preseason favorites as well as one of the nation’s best.

The hosts missed just one shot in the opening ten minutes on the way to bolting in front 32-12 by the first break. IWU went on to outscore HU the next two quarters before Maggard and crew finally settled in to put up twenty points in the fourth while limiting Wesleyan to 15.

After being held scoreless in the first half, Bailey Kelham was a bright spot in the final 20 minutes having nailed four threes on her way to 19 second half points. Gabi Melby finished with 11 to go along with four assists, three rebounds and two steals.

Olivia Raby scored her team’s first eight points to finish with ten as HU’s third double digit scorer. Makayla Clement ripped done four boards to share team-high rebounding honors with Melby.

As a team, Huntington shot a solid 44.7 percent (21-for-47) from the field and connected on 15 of their 19 freebies for 78.9 percent from the line. It was turnovers, 25 of them, that did the guests in as IWU collected 30 points from HU’s blunders.

Lilli Frasure poured in 22 points to top all scorers. Jasmine Griffin added ten as the only other Wildcat to score in double figures.

The Foresters (2-4) are off until after Thanksgiving break when they play at Bethel on November 29.