<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1612714406271.jpeg" alt="KWU's Amanda Hill. Photo courtesy <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com">kwucoyotes.com</a>" />
 <figcaption>KWU's Amanda Hill. Photo courtesy <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com">kwucoyotes.com</a></figcaption>
 </figure>LINDSBORG –&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kwucoyotes.com/roster/22/2/11267">Ryan Showman</a>&nbsp;had coached 269 games in his eight-plus seasons as head women's coach at Kansas Wesleyan entering Saturday's Kansas Conference contest against archrival Bethany.&nbsp;He'd witnessed several stirring, memorable and historic victories in that time but nothing, in his mind, compared to what he experienced Saturday inside Hahn Gymnasium.&nbsp;Riding a three-game losing streak and coming off a two-week pause because of COVID-19 related issues that allowed them just a couple of practices a couple of days before tipoff, the Coyotes somehow managed to squeeze out a harrowing 56-55 victory.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kwucoyotes.com/roster/22/2/11275">Amanda Hill</a>'s&nbsp;(SR/Rossville, Kan.) field goal with 1:28 left gave KWU the 56-55 lead and the Coyotes survived two late turnovers and two Bethany missed shots – the last in the final second. &nbsp;"I don't know that I've ever been more proud of a team in a game, win or lose, than I am right now for the way they battled and fought through adversity and found a way to win on the road," Showman said on his postgame radio show.&nbsp;"Not often am I at a loss for words but I'm having trouble articulating my thoughts into words. This was a very emotional win for us."&nbsp;Wesleyan played without starting guard&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kwucoyotes.com/roster/22/2/11279">Mia Needles</a>&nbsp;(JR/Highland Ranch, Colo.) and overcame 25 turnovers in raising its record to 10-9 overall and 9-7 in the conference. Bethany fell to 13-8 and 11-8.&nbsp;It was the Coyotes' first game since a 73-69 road loss to McPherson on January 23 – a game they led 69-61 with 4 minutes left.&nbsp;"We left a really tough situation going into quarantine," Showman said. "Losing three in a row and terrible ways to lose a game, with the lead, a couple of weeks ago. We came out of quarantine with a couple of practices to get our legs underneath us and get ready for a really good Bethany team on the road."&nbsp;KWU trailed 29-24 at halftime after scoring the last six points of the half but committed 14 turnovers that resulted in 15 Bethany points the first 20 minutes.&nbsp;The Coyotes found their stride during intermission and opened the third quarter with a 14-3 run –&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kwucoyotes.com/roster/22/2/11282">Kelcey Hinz</a>&nbsp;(JR/Whitewater, Kan.) scoring seven after taking and missing just one shot the first half.&nbsp;Leading 50-46 following a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kwucoyotes.com/roster/22/2/11288">Gabby Mureeba</a>&nbsp;(SO/Allen, Texas) basket with 6:16 left in the game Bethany scored seven straight and led 53-50 with 4:16 left.&nbsp;Two&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kwucoyotes.com/roster/22/2/11289">Caila Hill</a>&nbsp;(SO/Rossville, Kan.) free throws and an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kwucoyotes.com/roster/22/2/11275">Amanda Hill</a>&nbsp;basket gave KWU a 54-53 lead, but Hannah Ferguson scored with 2:13 remaining to give the Swedes a 55-54 advantage. It was their last offensive hurrah, though.&nbsp;The final seconds were a mad scramble.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kwucoyotes.com/roster/22/2/11275">Amanda Hill</a>&nbsp;stole a Bethany pass and KWU called time out with 12 seconds left but Hill lost the ball on the inbounds play with 11 seconds remaining.&nbsp;Following a Bethany time out Ferguson misfired on a guarded shot with one second left. The Swedes got the rebound but Julie Nygard's shot came after the final horn sounded. &nbsp;The Coyotes limited Bethany to 39.2 percent shooting (20 of 51) and won the rebounding battle 35-25 – nine of them offensive that led to 10 points. Bethany had two second chance points.&nbsp;"Our girls just didn't quit, they found a way to get a (defensive) stop, they found a way to score, we got out in transition," Showman said. "It's just something we needed really, really badly."&nbsp;Mureeba led KWU with 13 points on 5 of 7 shooting from the field while&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kwucoyotes.com/roster/22/2/11275">Amanda Hill</a>&nbsp;had 10 points, 11 rebounds, four assists and four steals. Hinz added seven points, six rebounds, three blocks and three steals, and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kwucoyotes.com/roster/22/2/11289">Caila Hill</a>&nbsp;had nine points, five rebounds and three assists. KWU shot 43.5 percent (20 of 46), including 3 of 13 from long range, and was 13 of 17 from the foul line.&nbsp;Autumn Garrett led Bethany with 16 points while Halei Wortham had 10.&nbsp;The Coyotes travel to Bartlesville, Okla., Monday to play Oklahoma Wesleyan in a 6 p.m. make-up game inside the Mueller Sports Center. KWU plays Tabor Wednesday in Hillsboro and York next Saturday inside Mabee Arena.&nbsp;--<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com">kwucoyotes.com</a>--

KWU women's basketball holds on for win over Bethany