SHARON, Pa. — The Kenyon College women’s basketball team engineered a thrilling fourth-quarter comeback to secure their first victory of the season, defeating Penn State University-Shenango 55-52 on the road. The Owls (1-3) erased a 12-point deficit in the final four and a half minutes of play, showcasing remarkable resilience and clutch shooting over a game-winning 15-0 run to close the game.
Trailing 52-40 with just over four and a half minutes remaining, the Owls mounted their comeback behind the stellar play of junior guard Alyssa Gest, who finished with a game-high 17 points, including four three-pointers. Gest’s sharpshooting, particularly a deep three from well behind the arc with about two minutes remaining, helped spark the decisive rally.
Junior forward Anissa Hardy played a pivotal role in the comeback, recording a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Hardy’s efficiency at the free-throw line proved crucial, as she connected on 6-of-8 attempts from the charity stripe. With just under 30 seconds remaining, Hardy’s offensive rebound and putback gave the Owls their first lead of the fourth quarter, a lead they would not relinquish.
First-year guard Kiana Mollabashy contributed significantly to the victory, finishing with 10 points and providing a crucial offensive rebound late in the game. After Hardy split a pair of free throws with just over a minute remaining, Mollabashy secured the offensive board and found Gest for a three-pointer that brought Kenyon within a single point. Moments later, Mollabashy tied the game at the free-throw line, setting the stage for Hardy’s go-ahead basket.
The Owls’ defense proved equally impressive during the final frame, limiting PSU-Shenango to just eight fourth-quarter points. Alexis Newman sealed the victory with a free throw in the closing seconds, giving Kenyon a three-point cushion. Shenango’s last-second three-point attempt missed the mark, securing the Owls’ dramatic comeback victory.
The win marked a significant turnaround from the game’s earlier stages, as Kenyon had trailed 19-12 through one quarter, 32-29 at halftime, and faced a six-point deficit entering the final frame. The victory evened the teams’ records, as the Lions also moved to 1-3 on the season.
For Gest, the strong performance against Penn State Shenango continued a pattern of success against this opponent, following her 25-point outburst in their previous matchup during her freshman campaign. Her all-around contribution of six rebounds and four assists, combined with her clutch shooting, proved instrumental in securing Kenyon’s first win of the 2024-25 season.
The Owls return to action this Friday, November 22, when Kenyon heads to Marietta College to compete in Marietta’s Jim Meagle Classic. The Owls will tip off against the University of Mount Union at 5 p.m. on Friday before playing the hosting Pioneers at 3 p.m. on Saturday.
