The pieces are starting to come together for the Kansas Wesleyan Women's Basketball team and first-year head coach Harper Taylor.
The Coyotes put together an impressive performance in Saturday's Kansas Conference opener, blasting the Ottawa University Braves 93-75 inside Mabee Arena.
The victory pushed the Coyotes over .500 at 3-2 overall and 1-0 in the KCAC. Ottawa suffered its first defeat of the season falling to 3-1 overall, 0-1 in the league.
Taylor said on her post-game radio interview that Saturday's performance is something that the Coyotes have been building on in practice and in the non-conference slate of games.
"I can't believe how hard we played and I feel there has been so many things that have led up to how hard we played for four quarters tonight," she said. "We've been trying to focus on things in practice, completing four quarters. We had pieces of it in our non-conference but it feels good to shoot that well and protect our home floor. I am really excited and really proud of our players."
Wesleyan torched the nets for 53 percent shooting in the game - 35-of-66 - and knocked down 11 3-pointers. Meanwhile, the Coyote defense held Ottawa to 8 of 34 shooting from 3-point range, including 1 of 14 in the second half.
The Coyotes also shared the ball remarkably well, handing out 25 assists on 35 made field goals, led by Odessa Ozuna with nine.
Wesleyan raced out to a 10-2 lead to start the game on Izzy McCool's 3-pointer with 6:56 left in the first.
Ottawa got within two at 11-9 with 4:14 in the first, but a Kelsey Koza triple on KWU's next possession put the Coyotes up five. KWU led 19-14 after a quarter.
"We've been really working on game management and when to pull it out and get a really great shot. I think that we are starting to trust each other and I am starting to trust them,
Taylor said. "I think it definitely comes with time but I feel like a lot of those pieces we were able to be put on the floor tonight.
A 3-pointer by Adriana DiPrima with 6:19 left in the second pushed the lead out to double digits for the first time at 31-21. Ottawa again battled back getting within a point at 35-34 and taking a brief 37-35 lead with 2:42 to go in the first before the Coyotes got things going again.
A bucket by Jocelyn Hall and a steal by Anna Jueneman that turned into points gave the Coyotes a 40-27 lead just before the half.
Wesleyan led 42-39 at the break.
The third quarter was the difference maker for the Coyotes as KWU shot 67 percent from the field and hit 4 of 5 3-pointers in the quarter.
Ottawa was again within two at 45-43 with 8:12 to go in the third, but the Coyotes got things going on a 15-4 run capped by Emma Gertken's 3-pointer with 5:27 to go that made it 60-47 Coyotes. The run featured a pair of three-point plays by McCool and Jueneman as the Coyotes built on the energy of that run.
Raegann McDonald's score with 3:49 left pushed the lead out to 15 at 64-49.
The lead touched 20 for the first time at 87-67 on Ozuna's bucket with 4:46 to go in the game.
Taylor pointed out that the team is finding good energy as they try to build their own identity coming off the successes of last season.
"We have been trying to harness that energy with the team," she said. "I feel like it's been a good way for us to find some sort of identity compared to last season and it's awesome to see that hard work pay off."
McCool led the Coyotes with 19, while Ozuna had 14 and DiPrima added 13. Paige Chauncey made her season debut scoring eight points and pulling down eight rebounds and was one of three players to score eight points along with Madison Lambert and Emma Gertken. Chauncey's eight rebounds led the way for the Coyotes to a 42-40 rebounding margin.
Kaelynn Duncan had 20 for Ottawa.