KWC sweeps final doubleheader of 2018

December 29, 2018 | 6:54 pm

Updated December 29, 2018 | 6:54 pm

Illustration by the Owensboro Times

The Kentucky Wesleyan College basketball teams closed out 2018 by easily sweeping a doubleheader at home Saturday over Alice Lloyd College. The men won the morning game 87-55, and the women followed with an 89-65 victory.

MEN
The Panthers (5-6) got production throughout the lineup, but they were led by Mohamed Abu Arisha’s double-double (10 points, 10 rebounds) and Erik Bell’s 8 assists, while Adam Goetz led with 23 points.

A sluggish start was quickly overcome as Wesleyan found its shooting touch, and they scored 23 of their 40 first-half points in the final nine minutes of the period.

Leading 24-20 with seven and half minutes left in the half, a 12-2 run ended with a 3-pointer by Abu Arisha and a putback by Tarik Dixon. The lead grew to 15 points on Dixon’s 3-pointer.

Wesleyan made 10 3-pointers in the second half on only18 attempts. Five of them came in four-minute span, and Goetz drained three of them during a 21-5 run.

The Panthers coasted to the finish, maintaining at least a 25-point lead.

Dixon had 14 points and three assists off the bench. Deng Mayot recorded 12 points and nine rebounds, while Bell had 7 points and 12 rebounds to go along with his 8 assists.

The Panthers will return to the Sportscenter at 7:45 p.m. Thursday to host Trevecca Nazarene.

WOMEN
The Panthers (8-3) found themselves playing from behind early, as a 9-0 start turned into a 21-17 deficit after the first period. Wesleyan got on a roll, and Lily Grimes put up a double-double in the big win.

Grimes tied the game at 24 with eight minutes left in the half, but the Eagles responded again to take a 31-24 lead. The Panthers chipped away and a pair of 3-pointers by Kelsey Ivers’ put them back on top.

Another 3-ball, this time from Jenna Martin, capped-off an 8-2 run for a 46-38 Panther lead at the break. Wesleyan opened the second half on an 8-0 run and never looked back.

Grimes finished with 13 points and 10 rebounds, while Martin led the team with 15 points, 5 boards and 5 assists. Shayla Wright came off the bench to add 11 points and Kaylee Duncan had 10 points.

The Panthers will return to the Sportscenter at 5:30 p.m. Thursday to host Trevecca Nazarene.

December 29, 2018 | 6:54 pm

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