Scots Fall to Coe on Saturday

By Nathan Baliva

MONMOUTH, ILL. The Monmouth College women's basketball team returned home for the first time in two weeks but their two-game win streak ended with a 79-35 loss to Coe on Saturday. The Fighting Scots (2-3) will be home again next Saturday as they face Dominican.

Down 5-0, Ella Goodrich (Minonk, Illinois) hit a 3-pointer, making the fourth game in a row she has scored Monmouth's first points. Ava Pelaez (Aurora, Colorado) hit a 3-pointer and Goodrich made two free throws as Caydee Kirkham scored the first 12 points for Coe. Goodrich and Pelaez both scored again and Coe led 21-12 after the opening quarter.

Both teams went cold in the opening minutes of the second quarter. Allie Hoy (Woodland, Illinois) made two free throws and Coe led 26-14 with 4:49 to play in the half. Pelaez scored on a putback for the first field goal of the quarter and Kynlee Stearns (Gilson, Illinois) knocked down two free throws as Coe led 34-18 at the break.

Goodrich scored Monmouth's first four points of the second half to get in double figures for the game. Coe hit a pair of 3-pointers and a layup for a 44-22 lead. Coe went on a 9-0 run from there and ended the first five minutes of the half on a 19-4 run to lead 55-22. The Kohawks scored again in the paint before Hoy hit a step-back 3-pointer. Goodrich scored the final four Monmouth points of the quarter as Coe took a 60-29 lead into the fourth.

Coe scored the first three points of the fourth quarter before Goodrich made a free throw. Coe pushed the lead to 71-32 as Jamaica Walker (Mobile, Alabama) scored in the paint. Walker split free throws and Coe scored eight straight to lead 79-33. Kamryn Gillespie (Westmont, Illinois) made a runner off glass and Coe scored for the 81-37 final score.

Goodrich led the Scots with 14 points while Pelaez had nine. Goodrich had six rebounds, Hoy had five steals and one assist while Gillespite also had an assist.

MONMOUTH MOMENTS: Goodrich has scored in double figures in four straight games ... The Scots were 10-for-13 at the free throw line ... Coe has won seven straight against Monmouth dating back to the 1995-96 season ... They lead the all-time series 33-12 ... Monmouth will host Dominican at 1 p.m. next Saturday.