MISHAWAKA, Ind. --The Lady Pilots (8-9, 2-6) suffered a tough loss to the Spring Arbor Cougars (12-6, 5-3), 75-53, despite an impressive first half.
Isabel Scales posted 18 points for the Pilots, shooting 62.5% (5-8) from the field. In doing so, Scales hit her season-high for points scored in a single game (12 against Huntington on Nov. 23, 2024). She also recorded five rebounds for the Pilots.
Gracie Lambes shot 66.7% from the floor, posting seven points for the Pilots. Additionally, Lambes had her first turnover of the game at 5:48 in the second quarter and another at 1:30 in the third.
Caroline Morris contributed four rebounds for Bethel. Morris also had an assist-to-turnover ratio of 4:1, setting her new season high for turnovers per game.
The Pilots started aggressively in the first quarter, battling point for point with the solid Cougar offense. Morris posted a layup in the paint at 8:46 to put the Pilots on the board. Olivia Nickerson downed a three-pointer at 5:56 to tie the score 8-8.
To end the quarter, Mariah Claywell nailed a jump shot with just one second left on the clock. After the first, the Pilots trailed 21-20.
The Pilots' defense struggled at the onset of the second quarter, as the Cougars owned the first four points. Justyce Williams posted a layup at 6:18 to bring the Pilots' score to 22-25.
Ellia Foster and Isabel Scales followed suit with layups at 3:38 and 3:08, respectively. The Pilots concluded the first half down 34-30.
The Pilots lost momentum in the second half as the Cougars coasted through an 11-point run at the beginning of the third. Kallie Harrison nailed a layup at 3:55, her first basket of the game.
Despite Bethel's four-point run in the fourth quarter, thanks to Scales' work at the charity stripe (4:31) and Lambes' layup and free throw (3:58), the Pilot offense could not recover.
The Pilots continue the Crossroads League season on Saturday, Jan. 18, at 1:00 p.m. on the road at Odle Arena, where the Pilots will face the Taylor University Trojans.
For more information about Bethel Pilots Athletics, check out bupilots.com or follow us on Instagram, Facebook, X, and YouTube by searching @bupilots or using the hashtag #AnchorUp for updates on all 31 Bethel Pilots sports.
