LINCOLN, Neb. (Jan. 17, 2024) - Buena Vista sophomore Danika Demers turned in a game-high 22 points and grabbed eight rebounds with junior McKenna Cone adding 19 points, as the Beavers pulled away in the second half for a 74-58 victory at Nebraska Wesleyan on Wednesday inside of Snyder Arena.

Demers matched her career-high with four made three-point buckets in the contest while shooting 6-of-11 from the field overall and 6-of-6 at the free-throw line. Cone was equally as efficient, making 6-of-13 from the field and sinking all seven shots from the charity stripe. Senior Addison Weber came off the bench and added three makes from beyond the arc en route to 13 points and sophomore Jenna Hallock chimed in with 10 points and seven boards.

As a team, BVU finished the game at 41.5 percent from the field, including 7-of-22 from long range. The team also made it to the free-throw line 29 times and converted 23.

Both teams were a bit cold shooting in the opening quarter and finished the period all tied up at 10-10. The Prairie Wolves made two more field goals than the Beavers in the second quarter despite not making a single three-pointer and held a slim 24-22 advantage at the break.

The Beavers used a big third quarter due in large part to a perfect 11-for-11 effort at the free-throw line. Demers made a pair from the stripe that gave them a 35-32 edge midway through and they still led by that same margin after a make from downtown by the Prairie Wolves made it 40-37 with 3:19 yet to play. Demers nailed yet another three-pointer on the next BVU possession and that sparked a big 13-3 run to close out the quarter and put BVU in front 53-40 headed to the fourth.

Cone made a layup for the Beavers to begin the fourth quarter to make it a 15-point cushion and the margin grew to as many as 21 points following a layup from Allie Leisher midway through. BVU maintained the advantage the rest of the way as NWU got no closer than 15 down the stretch.

Nebraska Wesleyan finished the game at 31.3 percent shooting from the field, including a 3-of-15 effort from downtown. The Beavers out-rebounded the Prairie Wolves 48-36 on the glass and was plus-10 on points off turnovers.

Buena Vista improves to 2-13 on the year (1-7 A-R-C) and returns home to host Coe College on Saturday, Jan. 20, at 2 p.m.