By Charles Jardine
Sports Editor
The Franciscan University women’s basketball team faced off against the Grove City Wolverines on Wednesday, Jan. 25 where they lost a hard-fought battle, 82-71.
The Lady Barons started off their game with a bang, with freshman guard Kylie Panizza getting a quick steal leading to an easy layup by sophomore center Madison Doan. Doan kept the intensity up blocking the Wolverines next shot.
Sophomore guard Jazzlyn Melnyk and Doan led the scoring for the Barons in the first quarter with the Barons’ first nine points. The Wolverines struck back after the Barons tied the game 9-9, going on a 9-0 run to close out the quarter 18-9.
Freshman forward Giuliana Biasutto started the second quarter with a hot hand, scoring two consecutive threes and bringing the score to 25-15, Wolverines. The Lady Barons continued to claw back, cutting the Wolverine lead down to five. But after a flurry of scoring the Wolverines remained on top 36-25 at the half.
The Wolverines picked up where they left off before the half, going on a quick 8-0 extending their lead to 44-25. Sophomore guard Felicia MacGillivray scored first for the Lady Barons with a three-pointer but was followed by many missed three-pointers by the team.
Doan got the scoring rolling for the lady Barons with a couple of free throws and layups bringing the score to 34-50. MacGillivray provided the rest of the scoring for the quarter from two jump shots and a three pointer making the score 53-41, cutting into the ever growing lead of the Wolverines.
MacGillivray continued knocking down shots with the first four Baron points of the fourth quarter, but the Wolverines were able to extend their lead to 61-45. Doan and MacGillivray continued to provide scoring for the Lady Barons, but down 75-62 with less than a minute left freshman guard Emma Clow was subbed into the game. Not willing to go out easy, Clow went three for three to score nine quick points in the final minute.
The Wolverines prevailed over the Lady Barons 82-71, but the Barons showed a lot of great skill for future games. Doan led the scoring with 21 points, Melnyk led the team in rebounds, assists, and steals and Clow showed the promise of being a knock down long range shooter.