The Raven women’s basketball team overcame a slow start Saturday afternoon against Evangel University to earn a comeback win, 60-59.
Benedictine (12-9, 7-3 HAAC) trailed Evangel (7-12, 5-5 HAAC) most of the game and got a big free throw from guard Kelsey Wolfe (Sr., DeKalb, Mo.) to break the game’s seventh tie in the games final seconds.
A last-second 3-point attempt by the Crusaders missed long and gave Benedictine the one-point win.
Evangel started out the game on a 9-0 run and lead by 10 points over Benedictine by the midpoint of the first half.
Benedictine trailed by as much as 13 points before Wolfe found her range from arc.
Wolfe knocked in four 3-pointers to erase the Ravens deficit and pulled Benedictine back within a possession with just under three minutes left in the half.
A pair of free throws from center Liz Stinson (Jr., Stilwell) pulled Benedictine within one point before Wolfe scored gave the Ravens their first lead of the game at 27-25 with just over one minute left in the half.
By halftime the lead traded hands twice with Evangel taking a two-point lead into the break.
The first two minutes of the second half saw the games third and fourth ties before Evangel was able to pull ahead by six points.
Benedictine continued to chip away at Evangel but couldn’t pull within more than a possession until the four-minute, 46-second mark.
Center Teresa Ziekewicz (Sr., Wichita) hit a free throw that pulled the game to its fifth tie and then Wolfe hit a pair of free throws to give Benedictine their third lead of the game.
Evangel regained the lead minutes later only to have Benedictine answer and regain the lead on a Stinson jumper with two minutes remaining.
Evangel answered to tie the game at 59 to set up the last-second free throw by Wolfe in what proved to be the only point in the final 90 seconds of the game.
Benedictine was able to earn the win despite being outshot by Evangel. The Crusaders knocked in 51.2 percent on the day to the Ravens 38.3 percent.
The difference in the second half came at the charity stripe. Benedictine converted 11 of 19 from the free throw line while Evangel went 3 for 4.
Wolfe led all scorers with 20 points and was the only Raven to reach double figures. Guard Kesley Anselmi (Jr., Olathe) added 9 points while forward Erin Murphy (Jr., Olathe) chipped in with 8 points.
Benedictine was able to score 23 points off turnovers, 12 of which came in the second half while Evangel converted 16 points off turnovers with only five coming in the second half.
The Crusaders were paced by Emily Akins with 18 points.
Benedictine hits the road for a Feb. 4 game in Marshall, Mo. Tip-off against Missouri Valley is scheduled for 2 p.m. and will be the first time the two teams have met this season.
— BC Sports Information —