Jones Scores 18 but Scots Fall at Beloit on Saturday

by Nathan Baliva

MONMOUTH, Ill. (01/11/2025) — The Monmouth College women's basketball team got 18 points from Ashley Jones (Abingdon, Illinois) but lost 73-58 at Beloit College (2-13, 1-5) on Saturday. The Fighting Scots (4-10, 1-4) have one more game on the road before returning home next weekend

Averi Rangel (Moline, Illinois) got the Scots going with a 3-pointer on the second possession and added another bucket for a 5-2 lead. Jones made two free throws and Kynlee Stearns (Gilson, Illinois) gave the Scots a 9-5 lead with a layup. Beloit took the lead with an 8-0 run before Madi Finch (Aledo, Illinois) hit a jumper. Finch added another bucket but Beloit led 17-13 after the opening quarter.

The Bucs pushed the lead to 23-13 before Stearns scored three straight. A technical on the Monmouth bench keyed a 9-0 run by Beloit that put the Scots down 16 before Ella Goodrich (Minonk, Illinois) made a free throw. Monmouth's final five points of the half came at the free throw line, two each by Stearns and Kiersten Cox (Illinois City, Illinois). Beloit took a 34-22 lead

Jones started the second half with a 3-pointer and added two buckets for a personal 7-0 run. Stearns cut the deficit to eight with two free throws and Cox hit a 3-pointer. Monmouth pushed their run to 14-5 when Jones scored again for a 39-36 game. The teams traded buckets until Beloit scored four straight for a 47-40 lead. Brooklyn Sellers (Freeport, Illinois) scored in the paint but Beloit pushed the lead back to nine. Stearns closed the quarter with two free throws for a 51-44 Beloit lead.

Jones started the fourth quarter with three free throws but Beloit pushed the lead to 13 before the Scots hit their first field goal of the frame. Down 62-49, Cox hit a jumper and Goodrich made two free throws. Cox cut the deficit to 10 but Beloit scored the next five points to lead by 15 with one minute to play. Finch scored in the final seconds with a free throw for the 73-58 final.

Jones led the Scots with 18 points while Stearns scored 13 and Cox added nine. Cox led the way eight eight rebounds and Jones had six. Jones and Sellers had Monmouth's only assists and Stearns led the team with three steals.

MONMOUTH MOMENTS: Jones has scored in double figures 10 times this season ... Stearns has scored in double figures five times this season ... Monmouth had just two assists on 18 made baskets ... Beloit out-rebounded Monmouth 45-37 ... Finch blocked a career-best three shots ... The Scots were 19-of-25 at the free throw line but just 3-of-16 from 3-point range ... The Scots made more free throws (19) than field goals (18) ... Stearns was 7-for-9 at the line ... Monmouth won the first matchup 71-55 at home on Dec. 8 as Rangel scored 15 points and Jones posted a 14-point, 13-rebound double-double ... Beloit has won the last three at home ... Monmouth leads the all-time series 38-26, including an 10-5 record in the last 15 ... The Scots play at Cornell on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. to end the 7-game road trip ... The next home game is Saturday, Jan 18 against Ripon.