COLUMBUS – The Kenyon College women’s basketball team could not continue its unbeaten start to the season, falling 60-49 on the road against Capital University on Nov. 12.
Kenyon scored the game’s first points on a putback by Alyssa Gest, but the shots were not falling for either team early as the squads combined to shoot 6-for-32 from the floor and 0-for-11 from three-point range in the opening period. Kenyon doubled its five-point first-quarter output with 10 points in the second. The Owls matched their first-quarter scoring in a 1:13 stretch, tying the game 10-10 thanks to three points from Anissa Hardy and two from Katie Orefice.
However, the Owls faced a 15-point deficit after Capital finished the half on a 20-5 run to go ahead 30-15. The Comets benefited from being the first team to find its stroke from distance, shooting 3-for-4 (75 percent) from three over their big run. Additionally, five more makes on six more attempts from the free-throw line helped Capital double up on the Owls through 20 minutes.
Kenyon played much better in the third frame as Claudia Cooke kicked things off with the Owls’ first four points, but Capital still increased its lead by three after outsourcing Kenyon 19-16. After Cooke started the scoring, Orefice took over and poured in a dozen third-quarter points. The senior guard reached 20 points before any Comet scored more than 10 points, but her effort could not pull Kenyon closer as no other Owl reached double-figures until three minutes were left in the fourth quarter.
Cooke reached double digits for the second time in two games after leading all players with seven fourth-quarter points. The junior finished with 13 points and eight rebounds, shooting 4-for-5 from the floor and 5-for-8 from the free-throw line and adding two blocks and three assists. Gest, a first-year, added five points in the final frame to finish with nine and help Kenyon outscore Capital 15-14 in the period, but the Comets clinched a 60-49 win.
Orefice notched game-highs with 22 points and 10 rebounds, the sixth double-double of her career. The senior has notched 22 points in consecutive games to open the season and is averaging nine rebounds. Hardy, a first-year, pulled down eight boards and finished with four points.
Capital benefited from a balanced scoring attack, as 34 of the Comets' 60 points came from the bench. Five Comets scored between eight and 13 points, with Bri O’Connor leading the way. Capital made only four more field goals than Kenyon, but the Comets were plus-21 from three-point range after making 8-of-25 triples while holding the Owls to a 1-for-17 clip.
Kenyon’s next match-up is scheduled for Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. when the Owls head to Wilmington, Ohio, to take on Wilmington College (3-0)
