LINCOLN, Neb. (December 8, 2021) - Junior Vanessa poured in a game and career-high 20 points on 8-of-11 shooting for the Buena Vista women's basketball team as the Beavers went on the road and picked up a strong 46-38 American Rivers Conference victory over Nebraska Wesleyan.

Hamlett posted a season-high in made field goals and matched a season-best with 11 attempts.  She also went to the free-throw line a season-high seven times and finished 4-of-7 at the stripe.  The conference's leader in rebounding, Hamlett also continues to be a force around the rim, grabbing eight more rebounds as BVU out-rebounded the Prairie Wolves, 44-35.  Lindsey Anhalt added eight points, a game and career-high nine rebounds and also recorded a career-best five steals.

Buena Vista finished the game shooting 33 percent from the field and was only 1-of-21 from downtown and just 5-of-9 at the free-throw line.

It was another strong defensive performance overall as the Beavers held the Prairie Wolves to only nine points in the opening quarter and six in the third.  Nebraska Wesleyan, which was forced to forfeit its two scheduled conference games last week due to COVID-19 protocols, shot 27.7 percent (13-of-47) overall and 3-of-15 from long range.  Anna Vandenack led the Prairie Wolves with 13 points on 6-of-10 shooting.

NWU led 9-8 late in the first quarter before Hamlett and Taylor Krager made consecutive buckets in the closing seconds to give the Beavers a 12-9 lead after one quarter. BVU kept that momentum going by scoring the first eight points of the second quarter to extend the margin to 20-9.  Hamlett later gave the Beavers their largest lead of the half at 24-11 before the Prairie Wolves went on a 9-0 run to close the half get within 24-20 at the break.

BVU started the second half by scoring the first six points and another double-digit lead and continued to lead by the same margin at 36-26 heading to the fourth.  NWU made its first two shot attempts in the final stanza to make it a six-point game, but it was all BVU after that as the Beavers went on an 8-2 run to make it a 12-point cushion and the Prairie Wolves got no closer than eight the rest of the way.

Buena Vista will travel to Luther College on Saturday, December 11 for a 2:00 p.m. contest against the Norse.