MIDDLETOWN, Conn. – A 21-point fourth quarter by the Wesleyan University women's basketball team forced overtime, but the Cardinals' rally came up short as they dropped a tough non-conference matchup to Johnson and Wales Tuesday night in Silloway Gymnasium, 68-59.

RECORDS
Wesleyan: 7-11
Johnson and Wales: 16-2

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Wesleyan trailed by 10 points twice in the second half, including a 46-36 deficit with 8:36 to play in regulation, but the Cardinals rallied to force overtime. However, the final five minutes was all Johnson and Wales as it outscored Wesleyan down the stretch, 12-3.
• Kaylie Williams '16 scored a team-high 18 points, grabbed eight rebounds, dished out three assists and recorded two steals to lead the Cardinals. Maddie Bledsoe '18 fell one point shy of a double-double as she tallied nine points and 10 rebounds, and Tara Berger '19 grabbed a game-high 11 boards.
• The Cardinals were dominate on the offense glass and pulled in 28 offensive boards, while claiming the rebounding battle, 59-48.
• Two players scored 19 points each for the Wildcats – Ashley Thompson and Raquel Pederzani. Thompson and Pederzani also grabbed eight and seven rebounds, respectively, while Kristen Habbel scored eight points, dished out a game-high six assists, grabbed six boards and recorded three steals.

FIRST HALF HIGHLIGHTS

• Wesleyan came out hot to start the game as Williams hit a three-pointer just 20 seconds after the opening tip. The Cardinals took a 7-0 lead, but Johnson and Wales responded with a 9-0 run of its own.
• After a lay-up by Williams with 2:40 to play in the quarter knotted the score at 13-13, Sarah Duryea hit 1-of-2 foul shots to give the Wildcats a 14-13 lead after one. Both teams were held scoreless in the closing minutes of the first.
• Johnson and Wales held a slight lead for the first 5:06 of the second until a lay-up by Chynna Bailey '19 put Wesleyan ahead, 19-18.
• After a free throw by Olivia Gorman '19 gave the Cardinals a 22-20 advantage in the final seconds before the break, Pederzani drilled one from downtown with just :01 remaining on the clock as the visitor's took a 23-22 halftime lead.

SECOND HALF HIGHLIGHTS

• The Wildcats went on a 9-2 run in the opening minutes of the second half, and a lay-up by Pederzani at the 5:04 mark of the third quarter put Johnson and Wales up by 10 (36-26).
• However, Brenna Diggins '17 knocked one down from beyond-the-arc just seconds later, and a basket by Kadijah Mathews '18 capped off a 7-0 run by the Cardinals as they got within three.
• Trailing 40-35 entering the fourth, the Wildcats scored six of the first seven points to match its largest lead of the game as they pulled ahead, 46-36.
• With 1:38 to play in regulation, Williams hit a three-pointer to cut the deficit to one, 54-53.
• Ahead by one with just :16 remaining, Johnson and Wales went 1-of-2 from the foul line as Wesleyan took over, down 56-54.
• On the ensuing possession, Bailey drove to the hoop and missed the first attempt, but grabbed her own rebound and laid it back up as she scored the basket and was fouled on the play. The freshman made the foul shot, but a lane violation negated the point as Johnson and Wales took over with :07 to play and the game knotted at 56-56.
• The Cardinals stifling defense forced a deep three-pointer by Johnson and Wales with the time running out as the squads would head for extra minutes.

OVERTIME HIGHLIGHTS

• After a pair of free throws by Pederzani gave the visitor's a 58-56 lead, Danielle Gervacio '17 hit one from downtown to put Wesleyan back up.
• However, the Cardinals would not score in the final 3:42 of play as Johnson and Wales prevailed on the road with a nine-point victory.

UP NEXT

• The Cardinals are back in action Saturday, Jan. 30 and will head to Connecticut College for a 3 p.m. NESCAC matchup.
• Johnson and Wales returns to the court Thursday, Jan. 28 to play Emmanuel. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.