WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

The (RV) Forester women’s basketball team celebrated a statement win Saturday afternoon inside Platt Arena, knocking off #19 Indiana Wesleyan 68–51 to snap a 13-game losing streak to the Wildcats. Before today, HU’s last victory in the series, a 69-61 decision, dated back to February of 2019.

The win marks the Huntington’s fourth straight as they move to 8-3 overall, 3-1 in Crossroads League play, while the Wildcats drop to 6-5 (2-2 CL). With the victory, Coach Maggard’s crew joins Spring Arbor and Saint Francis in a three-way tie for third place in the league standings.

Huntington’s defense set the tone, holding the Wildcats to 51 points – their second-lowest scoring output of the season and nearly 24 points below their 75.3 PPG average. IWU shot just 33.9 percent (19-for-56) from the field and 23.8 percent from three, stifled by a connected HU defensive effort.

The Foresters seized control midway through the first quarter and never relinquished it. The tone was set early by Allison Price, who poured in ten of her career-high 19 points in the opening quarter. After IWU claimed its largest lead of the game at 4–2 in the first three minutes, Price answered with five straight points. She later capped the 17–6 Forester run with a second five-point burst to send HU into the first break up 19–10.

Huntington padded its lead by halftime, heading to the locker room up 33–21 behind balanced scoring and disciplined defensive pressure. While the Foresters maintained a double-digit cushion for most of the third, IWU refused to fold – cutting the deficit to nine entering the fourth and scoring on the first possession of the final frame to close within seven at 47–40. It was their closest margin since the first quarter, but the Foresters responded like a veteran squad.

After Liv Raby calmly sank two free throws, Annaka Nelson took over in spectacular fashion – drilling a three, sinking three free throws after being fouled on a triple attempt and burying a jumper to complete a personal seven-point flurry that stretched the lead to 57–43. From there, HU maintained control with Kyndra Sheets adding a reverse layup and going 6-for-8 at the line to secure the upset.

HU’s offensive efficiency was remarkable having shot 53.5 percent from the field, 45.5 percent from three and 89.5 percent (17-for-19) at the line. The Foresters also won the rebounding battle, 38–23, including a game-high 12 rebounds from Raby.

Individually, Nelson led all scorers with 20 points on 7-for-12 shooting, hitting 3-for-4 from deep and stuffing the stat sheet with 4 rebounds, 2 assists and a block. Price added 19 points and two steals, while Addie Shank posted 13 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks for a double-double.

Raby added 8 points and 12 boards, and Sheets finished with 8 points, 7 assists and 2 steals while playing all but two minutes. Maggard’s starters accounted for all of Huntington’s points.

IWU was led by Ellie Kelleher’s 14 points, while Addi Hovey added 11 and Ayla Krygier scored 9 as the Wildcats were held well below their offensive averages.

The victory marks HU’s second Top-20 win of the season, following a November victory over then-#17 Indiana Tech. The Foresters return to Platt Arena next Saturday to host Ohio Christian.