Cora and Boehne Logged Career-Highs as the Tigers Knocked off Bethel to Open Season

BOURBONNAIS, Ill. – The Olivet Nazarene University women's basketball team opened its 2020-21 season with a bang defeating the Bethel University (Ind.) Pilots, 114-89, inside McHie Arena on Wednesday night.

The Pilots started off the first quarter strong sinking 11 of the first 16 points making the score 11-5. During that stretch, the Tigers saw field goals from Olivia Demosthenes (FR/Bloomington, Ill.) and Avery Curry (JR/Chicago, Ill. ). After that run, A Curry layup and a Kaitlyn Engle (SO/Wapakoneta, Ohio) three-pointer cut the Pilot lead to one at 11-10. At 23-20, ONU, Maggie Cora (SO/Lizton, Ind.) scored five of the last seven points for the Tigers. The Tigers led 30-24 after the first quarter. Cora led the Tigers with seven points.

Bett O'Neal (SO/Bloomington, Ill.) started the scoring for the Tigers, in the second quarter, with a three making the score 33-24. After the Pilots cut the Tiger lead to four, layups by Kennedy Johnson (JR/Romulus, Mich.) and Zanna Myers (JR/Monticello, Ill.) grew the Tiger lead back to eight. At 37-34, the Tigers marked six straight points making the score 43-34. With under two minutes to go, a Myers' three sparked a 7-3 run to end the second quarter. The Tigers led the Pilots 59-43 going into the half. Myers led the Tigers with 13 points and Cora followed with 12.

Halftime: Olivet Nazarene 59, Bethel (Ind.) 43

In the third quarter, the Tigers and Pilots traded the first four points until Cora and Molly Ream (FR/Fort Wayne, Ind.) combined for five straight points making the score 66-45. After Caroline Boehne (JR/Hoffman, Ill.) made a layup making the score 75-50, the Pilots marked six of the next eight points making the score 77-56. At the end of the third quarter, the stout Tiger defense held the Pilots to only three free throws and took a 90-64 lead going into the fourth quarter. Cora led the Tigers with 17 points and Myers followed with 15. Boehne and Clark rounded out the double-digit scorers with 13 and 11, respectively.

The Tigers picked up the pace at the start of the fourth quarter when they scored 11 of the first 13 points. That run was highlighted by five points by Cora. The Pilots then turned the tide and scored nine unanswered points until Clark made a layup moving the score to 103-75.

The Tigers scored 11 more points in the game and defeated the Bethel University (Ind.) Pilots 114-89.

Final: Olivet Nazarene 114, Bethel (Ind.) 89

Quick Hits

• Cora led the Tigers a career-high 22 points and Boehne followed with her own career-high with 18 points.
• Both Myers and Clark finished with 15.
• Johnson posted a double-double with 10 points and 11 assists.
• Johnson led the Tigers with a career-high eight rebounds, Boehne followed with seven, and Natalie Bardwell (JR/Goodfield, Ill.) grabbed six.
• The Tigers shot 100 field goals and scored 49 points off 46 Pilot turnovers.

What's Next?

The Tigers (1-0) travel to Richmond, Ind. to take on the No. 9 Bears of Shawnee State University in the first game of the IU-East Red Wolf Classic on Friday, November 6. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. EST.

--ONU—

*Contact: Sam Viebrock, Sports Information Director, stviebrock@olivet.edu