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GAMBIER, Ohio – The Kenyon College women’s basketball team honored the 2024-25 senior class on Saturday afternoon as the Owls took on North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) opponent Hiram College in the third to last home game of the season.
Before the contest, Kenyon honored Raine Hammel, Chiara Nevard, Megan Lieb and Ruby Hutchins for their contributions to the program.
Despite a nice run to open the final quarter of play, it was too little too late for the Owls as the Terriers spoiled the senior day celebration 70-49.
Although Hiram (10-11, 3-7 NCAC) got off to a strong start, the Owls were able to respond with some nice runs by first-year talent. Kiana Mollabashy nailed a layup and a big three, while Alyssa Horsley and Eva Winston each found twine to set the score at 9-8 nearing the halfway point of the first.
Horsely added four more points in the quarter to lead the stat sheet, but Kenyon (2-18, 0-10 NCAC) fell behind as the visitors took a 12-4 advantage to the end of the first quarter, leading 21-12.
Megan Lieb and Grace Murphy each netted layups to start the second, but Hiram’s 3-of-5 (60 percent) mark from the floor and 2-of-3 (66.7 percent) from three allowed the Terriers to build a lead, getting ahead 30-17 with 5:49 in the half.
Mollabashy clipped another three while Chiara Nevard and Susannah Zimmerman each hit shots to close a strong stretch to end the half trailing 36-24.
After the break, the Terriers continued their strong shotmaking, but Nevard’s six-point stretch to start the third kept the Owls not far behind, trailing 47-31 with four minutes to play in the third. Katherine Organ joined Murphy on the stat sheet to end the third, as each of them hit nice jumpers and Kenyon was able to stick around 53-36 with 10 minutes to play.
The fourth was Kenyon’s highest from a point perspective, scoring 13 points and starting the period perfect from the floor. Mollabashy, Horsley, and Zimmerman all nailed jumpers in the first five minutes of the fourth as the Owls did not miss a shot.
Despite the hot start to the quarter, it wasn’t enough to stop the Terrier’s attack, eventually falling 70-49.
Mollabashy led the Owls offensive effort with 11 points and three triples, while fellow first-year Horlsey joined her in double figures with 10 and a team high four assists. Nevard added eight in her senior day celebration, while a last-second three-pointer lifted Murphy to seven points.
Kenyon’s record drops to 2-18 on the season and 0-10 in the NCAC. The Owls will now embark on its final road trip of the year, as the first of two games tips off on Wednesday, February 12 at 7:00 pm against Ohio Wesleyan.
