FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The Indiana Tech women's basketball team fought back from a 16 point lead to defeat Bethel College, 77-66, on Wednesday afternoon at the Schaefer Center to close out the nonconference and 2015 portion of their schedule.
Taylor Seiss had a team-high 18 points while
Kendall Knapke and
Haley Cook each scored 17 apiece. Knapke added a team-high nine rebounds, four steals, three assists and two blocks, while
Seiss and Cook each had four rebounds.
Taylor Carver also finished in double digits with 11 points while dishing out a season-high five assists.
The Warriors first quarter was anything but ideal as the Pilots jumped out to a 19-5 lead and took advantage of seven offensive rebounds while limiting the Orange and Black to 16.7% shooting. Bethel would extend its lead to as much as 16, but Tech would claw back into the game, outscoring the visitors 72-47 over the remainder of the game.
Tech's comeback would come in spurts as Coach
Jessie Biggs' squad would use 8-0 and 12-5 runs to close the gap to 34-30 at the break with
Rayana Villalpando hitting a half-court shot to beat the buzzer.
Bethel would stretch the lead back out to seven in the third period, but Seiss would hit a three pointer and a jumper in the Warriors final two possessions of the quarter give Tech its first lead of the game heading into the final 10 minutes.
Seiss and Knapke would combine for 15 of the teams 26 points in the fourth quarter, including a clutch 9-of-10 shooting from the charity stripe to ice the game away and snap a two-game losing skid. The Pilots were unable to cut the deficit to a single possession in the last 3:54 of the game as Coach Biggs' team held them to a 31.3% shooting clip.
The Warriors shot 45.3% for the game, including 52.6% from behind the arc and converted 18 Bethel turnovers into 19 points.
Tech (10-5, 6-1 WHAC) returns to Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference action on Saturday, Jan. 2, when they host No. 25 Lawrence Tech at the Schaefer Center. Tipoff is slated for 1 p.m. as part of a men's and women's doubleheader. Links to live video and stats will be available at IndianaTechWarriors.com.
