STORM LAKE, Iowa (Dec. 30, 2024) - The Buena Vista University women's basketball team returned to action on Monday afternoon for the final time in the calendar year, but the Beavers dropped a tough 93-64 non-conference home game to St. Catherine University inside of Siebens Fieldhouse.

Junior Danika Demers scored 16 points for the Beavers, freshman Tyme Boettcher followed with 14 and senior McKenna Cone chipped in with 12. The duo each made a pair of three-point baskets in the game as BVU went 7-of-26 overall (26.9 percent).

Demers, along with Boettcher and junior Caislyn Long, dished out three assists with Demers also adding three steals.

The Wildcats, who came into the game averaging 4.4 made three-point buckets, hit that mark in the first quarter and built a 31-18 lead. BVU cut the margin down to single digits with less than three minutes remaining in the half, but a quick layup followed by another long range bucket pushed the cushion back to 14 for St. Catherine's with just over 1:00 to go as they led 50-36 at the break.

BVU came out of the locker room and went 4-of-10 from downtown in the third quarter, but the Beavers couldn't slow down the Wildcats on the defensive end. St. Catherine shot over 56 percent from the field and made eight free-throws in the quarter to help extend their advantage to 77-56 heading to the fourth.

The Beavers were cold in the fourth quarter from the field, going just 3-of-16 from the field, and were never able to make any sort of a run.

St. Catherine finished the game shooting 46.6 percent from the field overall and made 7-of-27 from downtown and 18-of-23 from the charity stripe. BVU shot 35.7 percent overall and was held to only 7-of-11 at the line.

The Wildcats outrebounded the Beavers, 55-32, and had 11 more second chance points. They also had 56 points in the paint which was 18 more than BVU.

Maddie Young went 10-of-13 from the field and led St. Catherine (5-4) with 23 points. Hattie Fox was close behind with 20 points while making 4-of-8 from long range.

Buena Vista is now 5-6 on the year and returns to American Rivers Conference play on Saturday, Jan. 4, at Luther College. Tip-off with the Norse is set for 2 p.m.