NASHVILLE, TN- Looking to jump back from their season opening loss yesterday, the Miners faced a tough Kentucky Wesleyan team. Turnovers were S&T's biggest fault tonight, committing 27 turnovers in the 62-53 loss.

Missouri S&T got out to a much better start today, trading baskets with the Panthers right off the back. After a free-throw from KWU with nine seconds left in the first quarter, S&T faced a 20-12 deficit heading into the second quarter.
Unlike yesterday, the Miners kept themselves in the game, never getting more than 10 points away from the Panthers.

After a jumper from Emma Johnson gave Kentucky Wesleyan a 13 point advantage, Laura Rodriguez (Gran Canaria, Spain/Baloncesto Torrelodones) hit a much needed three-pointer from the left wing to cut the Miners deficit to 32-22 heading into the half.

S&T cut into the Panthers lead right off the bat in the third quarter; starting the second half on a 6-0 run, the Miners got a three-point play from Mykala Baylor (South Bend, Ind./Clay) to make it 32-28. KWU answered right back, pushing their lead back out to 11 with baskets from Johnson, Clifford, and Walton.

The Miners would continue to chip away at the Panthers, but Kentucky Wesleyan had a response to all of Missouri S&T's baskets. The third quarter would end with Rodriguez hitting a short jumper from the free-throw line to get back within 10.

KWU came out guns firing in the fourth quarter; they opened the final quarter with a 7-2 run to extend their lead out to 15 with eight minutes left. S&T went to work, slowly shaving the Panthers advantage to single digits.

Maddie Raley (Haubstadt, Ind./Gibson Southern) did just that with 4:42 left in the game when she drove in the paint for a pull-up jumper to put the Miners down 53-44. But, crunch-time free-throws from the Panthers kept the Miners at bay and held them to the 62-53 loss.

Jordan Kabetske (Republic, Mo./Republic) led all players with 14 points while adding in nine rebounds while Laura Rodriguez (Gran Canaria, Spain/Baloncesto Torrelodones) went 5-7 from the floor for 12 points. Mykala Baylor (South Bend, Ind./Clay) picked up her second double-double of the season with 10 points and 13 rebounds while also recording two blocks and three steals.

As a team, the Miners shot 35% from the floor and 30% from behind the arc.