Owls fall to Yeowomen in season’s final game

GAMBIER, Ohio — The Kenyon College women’s basketball team concluded its 2024-25 season with a hard-fought battle against Oberlin College, falling to the Yeowomen (14-11, 8-6 NCAC) 62-39 in a home contest in Gambier. Despite the final score, the Owls (2-21, 0-13 NCAC) showed resilience and determination, particularly during a compelling first-half run that brought them within striking distance.

The game’s most exciting sequence began late in the first quarter when Grace Murphy, who would finish as the Owls’ leading scorer during the run with seven points, connected on two crucial free throws with 1:54 remaining, cutting into a 15-4 Oberlin advantage. Those free throws sparked what would become a 13-6 run for Kenyon, culminating in a momentum-shifting jumper by Alyssa Horsley with just over five minutes left in the second quarter. Horsley’s basket brought the Owls within four points at 21-17, marking their closest margin of the contest.

Horsley led all Kenyon scorers with 12 points, shooting an efficient 5-for-11 from the field. The first-year grabbed a team-high eight rebounds (two offensive, six defensive) while adding two steals. Murphy and Kiana Mollabashy each contributed 10 points, with Murphy showing particular efficiency from three-point range (2-for-3) and perfect shooting from the free-throw line (4-for-4). Mollabashy added three rebounds and a steal in her 30 minutes of play. Chiara Nevard provided a spark off the bench in the senior’s final game, connecting on her only three-pointer of the game.

Despite falling behind by as many as 26 points, with Oberlin taking their largest lead of 62-36 with 31 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, the Owls continued to battle. The Yeowomen’s defensive pressure proved challenging, as they recorded 15 steals and forced 22 Kenyon turnovers. The Owls managed to record six assists and convert Oberlin’s mistakes into eight points off turnovers.

The team demonstrated resilience throughout the game, contributing five bench points and capitalizing on extra possessions with six second-chance points. The defensive effort was highlighted by five steals.

While the season’s final record may not reflect the team’s full potential, moments like the first-half run against Oberlin showcased the Owls’ ability to compete at a high level within the challenging North Coast Athletic Conference. The determination shown throughout the game provides encouraging signs for the program’s future development.