![Taylor Tops Bethel in League Opener](/images/2016-17/WomenBasketball/Bradbury_BCstory.jpg)
Taylor Tops Bethel in League Opener
UPLAND, Ind. – Cassidy Wyse posted 16 points and 10 rebounds, Kendall Bradbury notched 22 points and nine rebounds and the Taylor University women's basketball team opened up league play with a 66-57 home win over Bethel on Tuesday night.
In the opening period, Bethel (0-9, 0-1 CL) outshot the Trojans from the field and from beyond the arc, but TU made up the difference at the foul line, sinking nine-of-12 free throws to own a slight advantage, 15-13, after ten minutes of play.
In contrast to the first 10 minutes of action, Taylor's entire scoring in the second quarter came from the field, as neither team sank a free throw in the period. From the 7:00-minute mark until 1:11 left in the quarter, TU held the Pilots to a lone three-pointer, while pouring in 11 points in that same span, allowing the Trojans to open up a nine-point lead at the intermission.
Bradbury led the Trojans to a strong start to the second half, scoring 10 of her game-high 22 points in the period to help Taylor extend the lead to 18, the largest of the game, with 2:21 remaining in the third quarter. TU played efficiently on offense during the third ten-minute interval, going seven-of-15 from the field and turning the ball over only once.
Bethel scored the first five points of the final period to cut the Trojan lead to 10, but Sydney Huffman knocked down a deuce and a triple to answer and inflate the lead back to 15. The Pilots cut the lead back down to 10 with 4:13 left in the contest, but Taylor once again had an answer. Wyse scored six consecutive points for TU to secure the league victory for the Trojans.
In addition to Wyse and Bradbury's contributions, Huffman added nine points off the bench, while Josie Cobb contributed seven points and four steals for TU.
Next, Taylor (4-3, 1-0 CL) will host No. 6 Saint Xavier (6-0) on Saturday at 2:00 pm inside Odle Arena.