OWENSBORO, Ky. – Missouri S&T used a strong third quarter to build a double-digit lead, then made some key plays down the stretch to secure a win in its 2025-26 season opener Friday as the Miners knocked off Kentucky Wesleyan 81-71 at the Owensboro Sportscenter.
The win was the first for the Miners in a season opener in four seasons and first in a true road game to open a campaign since 2016 – when they won at Tarleton State – as S&T outscored the Panthers 29-19 in the third period and held off KWC's late rally to secure the victory.
The first half was a back-and-forth affair, as the team were tied on six occasions and swapped the advantage five times. S&T trailed by as much as six in the first minute of the second quarter, but drew even by halftime on a pair of free throws by
Anna Finley (Owensville, MO/Owensville) in the final seconds of the half.
S&T shot 42.9 percent from the field in the first half, but came out blazing in the second half by going six-of-seven from the field to build its lead into double figures. The Miners took their first lead since the 6:11 mark of the first quarter on a driving layup by
Norah Gum (Waterloo, IL/Waterloo) in the opening seconds of the half, then grabbed the lead for good when
Anna Gilbertson (Lake Zurich, IL/Lake Zurich) made the second of two free throws with 8:03 to play in the period.
The Panthers had the lead down to one after a basket by Myah Montgomery, but the Miners rattled off seven points in succession starting with a Gum three-pointer. Gum then made a steal and fed
Megan Aulbert (Lake St. Louis, MO/Lutheran) for a lay-in to extend the lead, then Aulbert capped the run with two free throws at the 5:58 mark.
S&T's lead grew to 10 a short time later following a three-pointer by
Morgan Luebbering (St. Thomas, MO/Fatima) and reached 13 on a fast break layup by
Savannah Campbell (Rolla, MO/Rolla) before the Panthers closed the gap to 10 by the end of the quarter.
The Panthers started chipping into the Miner lead when the fourth quarter started and cut it to four after a turnover and layup by Georgia Acompanado with 5:11 remaining. However, after KWC missed two chances to get closer, Gum hit a floater in the lane at the 4:16 mark to extend the margin back to six and the Miners did most of the remaining offensive work at the free throw line, where they made all 12 of their attempts in the fourth quarter.
Finley, who connected on eight of those free throws down the stretch, led the Miners with 18 points as one of three S&T players in double figures in the scoring column. Gum finished the day with 16 points and Gilbertson recorded a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds. The Miners outrebounded the Panthers by an 11-board margin and scored 17 points off Kentucky Wesleyan's 18 turnovers.
Emma Bruwer led the Panthers, who shot just 41.8 percent from the field to S&T's 50 percent mark, with a game-high 22 points.
Missouri S&T will return to action Saturday as it faces Thomas More at 1 p.m.
