MIDDLETOWN, Conn. – Alana Jones '24 was everywhere, matching or recording four personal career-highs, but her impressive outing wasn't enough for the Wesleyan women's basketball team in a 67-57 defeat to Skidmore from Silloway Gymansium on Wednesday night. A fourth straight defeat brings Wesleyan to 4-5 while the Thoroughbreds win their fourth straight, moving to 5-1 on the season.
 
Jones put in the best game of her career, recording a career-high 18 points which largely came from free throws as the junior point guard went 12-for-15 from the charity stripe. This marked the first double-digit single-game point total in Jones' career. She also matched her career-highs with seven assists, six rebounds, and two steals. Jones' 12 free throws made is the highest single-game total for any Cardinal since Caleigh Ryan '22 hit 13 against Mitchell back on November 22, 2019.
 
A slow start to this contest doomed the Cardinals as the shots weren't falling all throughout the first half. Wesleyan scored just 17 points in the first half while Skidmore hit on close to 50 perfect of their field goal attempts to lead 32-17 at the break.
 
However, much like Monday night's 10-point loss to Amherst, the Cardinals clawed their way back in this one in the second half. After the Thoroughbreds led by as many as 21 points more than three minutes into the third quarter, Wesleyan started to chip away late in the third with a 9-2 run that lowered the deficit down to 13 points.
 
That momentum carried over into the fourth as the Cardinals made a game of it late, once trailing by 21 just over 10 minutes prior, a Lena Benway '25 turnaround jumper in the lane cut the Skidmore lead down to just six points, the thinnest margin since the first quarter.
 
Even with the deficit down to just two possessions, the Thoroughbreds hit a big triple on their next possession followed by two-point baskets from Cassie Davidson and Kate McCarney as the lead swelled back to 13 points with 2:15 remaining, putting the game out of reach for the Cardinals.
 
Tori DaCosta '25 recorded her fourth double-double of the season, finishing with 12 points and 10 rebounds in 29 minutes. Benway added seven points off the bench while Olivia Quinn '26 totaled six points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals.
 
Davison led the Thoroughbreds with 17 points on 8-for-12 shooting to go along with four assists. She was joined in double figures by McCarney who tallied 16 points (10-15 FT) and Andi Levitz who scored 11.
 
Wesleyan is back at home for one more game before a three-week break, playing host to Williams for a 2:00 PM tip from Silloway.