Kansas Wesleyan Women's Basketball captured its first KCAC regular season championship since the 2020 season on Saturday night as the Coyotes obliterated the Southwestern Moundbuilders 106-54 inside Mabee Arena.
The victory gives the Coyotes a 2-game lead in the conference standings with two games left to play, ensuring KWU no worse than a share of the conference title. KWU heads to Bethany on Wednesday and wraps the regular season at home on Saturday against Ottawa.
After a bit of a slow start, the Coyotes stepped on the gas pedal, nearly driving it through the floorboard midway through the first quarter and didn't let off until the end of the third quarter.
Southwestern was with four points at 17-13 with 4:24 left in the first when the switch flipped for the Coyotes. Angel Lee's bucket with 3:28 left sparked a 14-2 run for the Coyotes capped by LaMyah Ricks' 3-pointer as time expired to give KWU a 31-16 lead.
Wesleyan pushed the lead out to 17 on free throws by Catherine Bowman, but after a Southwestern 3-pointer, it was all Coyotes. KWU held Southwestern to just one point in the final 7:33 of the second quarter while quickly building the lead out to 61-22 at the half. The Coyotes closed the half on a 26-1 run.
Wesleyan's offense didn't slow down in the third quarter either. Wesleyan's last five field goals of the third were all 3-pointers as the Coyotes outscored Southwestern 34-16 in the third to lead 95-38 at the end of the quarter.
The starters didn't touch the floor in the fourth quarter as the Coyotes passed the century mark with 6:32 to go on a bucket by Alexis Dixon.
The Coyotes shot 60.9 percent from the field in the first three quarters (39 of 64) and finished 43 of 88 for 48.9 percent for the game. KWU hit 14 3-pointers in the game. Five players reached double figures led by 16 from Paige Chauncey. LaMyah Ricks had a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds. KWU had 26 assists on 43 field goals against only 12 turnovers. The Coyotes blasted Southwestern on the boards, outrebounding the Builders 59-29.
Wesleyan's defense was again stellar, holding Southwestern to 29.5 percent shooting and forcing 19 turnovers that led to 23 points.