DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Kansas Wesleyan Women's Basketball opened play on Wednesday facing the Central Methodist Eagles in the Daytona Beach Shootout. The Coyotes fell to the Eagles 81-74 inside the Ocean Center Arena.
 
Both teams shot the ball well, as CMU shot 54.5 percent from the field and a red hot 52.4 percent from 3-point range (11 of 21) for the game. The Coyotes shot 54.7 percent from the field and 44.4 percent from 3-point range (8 of 18).
 
CMU had the lead first but the Coyotes scored the next 10 points to lead 10-2 with 6:45 in the first on a bucket by Jocelyn Hall. The Coyotes pushed the lead out to 16-7 with 4:36 to go on free throws by Emma Gertken but CMU got back within two with 1:34 to go at 19-17.
 
The Coyotes closed the quarter on a flurry on a Adriana DiPrima 3-pointer and a bucket by Raegann McDonald just before the end of the quarter to lead 24-17 after one.
 
CMU cut the lead to three with 8:26 left in the second, but McDonald's bucket pushed the lead back out to seven. CMU cut the lead to one with 5:53 left at 29-28 before the Coyotes pushed the lead back out to 36-30 with 3:40 left in the half.
 
A 3-pointer by the Eagles gave CMU a 39-38 lead at the half.
 
CMU had a five-point lead several times to start the third quarter, leading 48-43 with 6:13 left but eight straight points by the Coyotes scored eight straight points capped by Izzy McCool's score with 3:40 to go made it 51-48 KWU. The teams traded baskets back and forth the rest of the way with CMU leading 54-53 after three quarters.
 
Wesleyan scored the first five points of the fourth to lead 58-54 with 9:05 left on Odessa Ozuna's 3-pointer, but both teams would trade the lead back and forth until the Eagles took the lead for good on back-to-back 3-pointers giving them a 66-60 lead with 4:37 left.
 
CMU led by seven at 70-63, but the Coyotes came back with a 7-0 run all by Ozuna to tie it at 70 on her 4-point play with 2:38 left. The Coyotes couldn't grab the lead, falling behind by seven at the final score of 81-74.
 
Ozuna led the Coyotes with 16 points, McDonald had 11 and McCool had 10. McCool's five rebounds led the team to a 27-23 advantage on the boards.
 
The Coyotes are back in action tomorrow in the Shootout, taking on Rochester Christian. The game has been moved up to a 10 a.m. Central Time start due to some scheduling changes in the event.
 
KWU is then off until January 3 when the Coyotes resume KCAC play at Tabor.