Plainview, TX – Following a win against the Central Christian College Tigers before the Christmas break, the Lady Cats traveled to Texas to face the Pioneers of Wayland Baptist University. The Lady Cats knew they would have their hands full against the #12 ranked team in the latest NAIA poll.

The Pioneers were first to score, but Taylor Rush quickly answered with a deep three to get the Lady Cats on the board. As the teams traded baskets, a Susie Moran layup and another Rush three gave the Lady Cats an early 8-7 lead. Moran drilled a mid-range jumper and Keara Mattingley put in a layup to keep the Lady Cats close amid a scoring run by the Pioneers. Susie Moran converted a traditional three-point play and another layup from Keara Mattingley put the Lady Cats within two with 2:05 remaining. Moran and Mattingley each added a pair of points, and the Lady Cats trailed 21-24 at the first quarter break.

Logan Jones started the Lady Cat offense in the second stanza with a jumper and Susie Moran scored inside. The Lady Cats would then hit a scoring drought and not score again until a Taylor Rush three with 3:50 remaining in the half. Savannah Ketchum hit a free throw and a layup to go with an Allyssa Joyner bucket, and the defense held strong keeping the Lady Cats within three. Ketchum connected on a pair from the charity stripe as time ran down, and the Pioneers led the Lady Cats 39-35 at the intermission.  

The Pioneers were determined to pull away in the second half and quickly added to their lead. Blythe Benefield drained a free throw, and Susie Moran scored inside to provide the response as the Lady Cats trailed by seven early in the third. Moran connected on a free throw and after a Taylor Rush steal, Logan Jones hit a breakaway layup. Rush followed with a three, to cut the deficit to 44-47. The Lady Cat momentum was short lived as the Pioneers immediately went on a 7-0 run. Back-to-back buckets from Logan Jones stopped the run, and two more Jones buckets as time was winding down pulled the Lady Cats within striking distance, 53-61.

With just 10 minutes remaining and an eight-point gap, the Lady Cats needed a run of their own. Keara Mattingley hit a layup to open up fourth quarter scoring, but another dry spell ensued. Susie Moran broke through with a layup at the 6:46 mark and a traditional three-point play two possessions later helped keep the Lady Cats close. Abbey Linville jumped into the scoring column and a Logan Jones three brought the Lady Cats to within five. The Pioneers continued to respond however, and after two Moran free throws, the Lady Cats trailed 67-73, with 2:26 remaining. Blythe Benefield hit a free throw, but with less than a minute left, the Lady Cats were forced to foul. The Pioneers connected on a pair of free throws and Logan Jones did the same to close out the Lady Cats scoring. Wayland Baptist held a 79-70 lead as time expired and the Lady Cats effort fell just short.

Susie Moran collected another double-double, putting up 21 points and bringing down 16 rebounds. Logan Jones provided 18 points, and Taylor Rush followed with 12. Abbey Linville dished out 7 assists.

The Lady Cats travel to Goodwell, Oklahoma to play the Aggies of Oklahoma Panhandle State University on Saturday, January 4 at 2:00 PM.