OWENSBORO, Kentucky - In the latest rematch of the previous two Great Midwest Tournament Finals, the Walsh Cavaliers women's basketball team dropped the first game of 2021, a 75-65 decision at the Owensboro SportsCenter to the Kentucky Wesleyan Panthers on Saturday (Jan. 2). 

Score: Kentucky Wesleyan 75, Walsh 65
Location: Owensboro, Kentucky (Owensboro SportsCenter)
Records: Walsh 3-2 (3-2), Kentucky Wesleyan 2-2 (2-2)
 
The short story: After Walsh led 10-6 in the opening quarter, the Kentucky Wesleyan Panthers used a 5-1 run in the final 90 seconds of the first quarter to tie the game at 11 after one quarter. A 17-2 Panthers run put the home team ahead for good as they led 28-13 with 5:08 left in the first half. Walsh trimmed a 20-point advantage down to eight in the fourth quarter but was unable to make the comeback. With the loss, Walsh has dropped two straight games for the first time since December 13-15, 2018. 
 
OPENING TIP 

• Sha Carter led the Cavaliers with a game-high 24 points on nine-of-14 shooting. The junior made two three pointers and went four-of-seven from the free throw line. She had five rebounds to go with three steals and one block. This was her 45th straight game in double-figures and 27th career 20-point effort. 
• Megan Ball scored 14 points on six field goals (one triple) in 35 minutes of play. 
• Kimmie Borck put up 11 points, including two three pointers. She tied a career-high with seven assists while accounting for three steals.
• Mayci Sales was the fourth member of the double-figure club with ten points and a team-high eight rebounds. Sales also had four assists, three steals and one block. 

THE DIFFERENCE

• Walsh turned the ball over 24 times, leading to 29 Panthers points in the game. Walsh scored 23 points off of 19 KWC turnovers. 
• Kentucky Wesleyan outscored Walsh 24-11 in the second quarter, leading to the deficit that the Cavaliers were unable to overcome fully. 

BEHIND THE NUMBERS

• Walsh was limited to 29 rebounds in the game, and only grabbed five offensive rebounds. 
• Despite a cold first quarter, Walsh had a better field goal percentage than the Panthers. Walsh shook off a 4-of-15 first quarter (26.7%) to finish at a 49% clip (25-51). The Cavaliers shot 50% in the second quarter and over 60% for the third and fourth quarters. 
• The Cavaliers managed one point off the bench, compared to 46 for the Panthers. Walsh's bench averaged 19.3 points off the bench in the first four games. 

NOTABLE

• Carter moved into 15th place all-time in scoring with 1,194 points, passing Alex Hochstedler (1,185). 
• Saturday was only the 6th time in the Kate Bruce era that Walsh outshot an opponent but fell in the game, falling to 78-6 in 84 games.  

NEXT UP

• Walsh will now travel to Hillsdale on Friday (Jan. 8) for a matchup with the Chargers before coming back to Alumni Arena on Sunday (Jan. 10). Tipoff in Michigan will be 5:30 PM on Friday evening. 

-WC-