By: Paxton Ritchie
CSC Sports Information Director
CHADRON, Neb. – Chadron State women's basketball forced 21 turnovers with a fast-paced, pressing style of play, but couldn't turn those extra possessions into points as they fell 60-51 to Bethany (Kan.) during a Tuesday night nonconference game in the Chicoine Center.
The loss in CSC's first official game on the schedule drops the Eagles to 0-1. Bethany, which competes in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (NAIA), improved to 2-3.
The Eagles swiped away 13 steals as a team, committed three fewer turnovers (18 to Bethany's 21) and outrebounded the Swedes 57-52. However, the Eagles shot 26.3 percent from the field (21-80), 13.5 percent from three (5-37) and 33.3 percent from the line (4-12).
Annika VanDalen, a true freshman from Fort Collins, Colorado, scored 12 points in her first collegiate home game, shooting 6-for-15 from the field. VanDalen also had three steals, as did Audrey Quintana and Ashlynn Sylve.
Quintana, a senior from California and the top scorer returning from last season's roster, also finished with 12 points. Quintana made two threes in 13 attempts, the only Eagle with multiple makes from deep.
Starting center Sophie Wilkinson, a New Zealand native, grabbed 10 rebounds along with a shot block. Half of Wilkinson's rebounds were offensive boards as CSC had 20 offensive rebounds as a team in the contest.
Guard Kenna Wagner also snagged 10 rebounds, securing a new career-high for the sophomore. Wagner finished with four points, two steals and one assist.
The first quarter saw Bethany struggle with CSC's full-court press, making only 1 of 12 field-goal attempts. However, CSC committed seven personal fouls in the quarter, which allowed the Swedes to go 11-for-12 from the free-throw line in the opening period and trail by only two, 16-14, after 10 minutes.
The teams went back and forth with 11 lead changes and seven ties across the first half, but the Swedes took control before halftime. Bethany closed the first half on a 14-0 run, which eventually became a 16-0 run when the Swedes scored the first basket of the second half. The Eagles went over six-and-a-half minutes without a field goal during that stretch.
Bethany never trailed in the second half. The Swedes only finished the game shooting 29.2 percent from the field and 29.6 percent from deep, but were proficient at the free-throw line, making 14 of 16.
Beyond VanDalen and Quintana with 12, Dreanna Jackson scored seven points while Ashlynn Sylve scored five and center Jordan Derby contributed four points. The Eagles had eight assists as a team, with Quintana and Alex Ridenour leading with two each.
Chadron State did outscore Bethany 30-20 in the paint. Bethany's bench outscored CSC's 24-14.
The Eagles will travel to Missouri this upcoming weekend, facing Lincoln on Friday and Missouri S&T on Saturday.