STORM LAKE, Iowa (Feb. 17, 2024) - The Buena Vista women's basketball team overcame a 17-point first half deficit and wrapped up its season on Saturday afternoon with a thrilling 55-51 victory over Nebraska Wesleyan.

The Beavers made just one field goal in the opening quarter and went 0-of-8 from downtown as the Prairie Wolves took a 16-2 lead to the second. That margin grew to 17 after a three-point by NWU inside the first minute, but the Prairie Wolves made just two more field goals the rest of the frame.

A pair of free-throws from Sidney Remier midway through the quarter pulled BVU within 10 before junior McKenna Cone drilled the team's first three-point bucket and made it 24-15 with under four minutes to play in the half. Maddie Hilgendorf beat the first-half buzzer with a bucket that made it 29-18 at the break.

After making just 1-of-14 from downtown in the first half, BVU heated up from long range in the third quarter which was a pivotal part in the comeback bid. The Beavers went 4-of-6 in the frame with all four coming at the start of the half. Cone made the first to make it 29-21 before sophomore Danika Demers and senior Addison Weber followed on back-to-back possessions to make it 29-27. Cone then gave the Beavers their first lead at 30-29 with her second trey over the first three-and-a-half minutes.

Nebraska Wesleyan got the lead back on a pair of free-throws and there were three lead changes to follow before the Prairie Wolves took a 38-35 lead to the fourth.

NWU quickly pushed the lead up to five to begin the final stanza, and it went back-and-forth until the Prairie Wolves made a three-pointer to make it a 49-40 advantage with just over three minutes remaining. Demers hit 1-of-2 at the line before Cone got the rebound off the miss of the second and was fouled on the put-back attempt. She calmy sank both free-throws to make it 49-43. Demers and Cone then made consecutive three-point buckets to tie things at 49-49 before Reimer gave BVU the lead back with two free-throws and 44 seconds left.

The Prairie Wolves tied things back up at 51-51 after making a pair of free-throws with 38 seconds left. Reimer then drew a big foul with 14 ticks to go and calmy sank both free-throws. NWU then threw the ball away on the ensuing inbounds pass before CJ Long was fouled and made both attempts to put the game away.

Cone made 4-of-5 from downtown and turned in 18 points to lead BVU. Demers followed with 13 points, seven rebounds and five assists. Reimer finished 9-of-10 at the charity stripe and chipped in with nine points. Jenna Hallock with held to three points but was a force on the defensive end with a game-high eight rebounds and four blocked shots.

The Beavers shot 50 percent from the field in the second half and finished the game at 35.7 percent. Defensively, they held the Prairie Wolves (0-21, 0-16 A-R-C) to 28 percent overall and 3-of-13 from long range. BVU made 7-of-22 from beyond the arc and 16-of-21 at the free-throw line.

The win completes the season sweep of the Prairie Wolves as the Beavers wrap up the season at 3-20 (2-14 A-R-C). The game also marked the final contest in the career of Weber.