COLUMBIA, Ky.- Women's basketball falls 80-72 to No. 12 Bethel (Tenn.) Saturday at Biggers Sports Center dropping to 1-6 in the Mid-South Conference and 13-9 overall. 

Taylor Guess led the offensive charge for the Blue Raiders with 23 points, seven rebounds, one assist, and one steal. Claire Fleming contributed 13 points, five rebounds, and three assists. Saniyah Shelton picked up a double-double, nearing a triple double, posting 12 points, 13 rebounds, alongside seven assists. Jarie Thomas was the other Blue Raider in double figures adding 10 points, two boards, one steal, and one block. 

Lindsey Wilson was held to just five points in the first ten minutes of action on 2-11 shooting, 0-3 from behind the arc, and 1-2 from the charity stripe. Gracie Borders put Lindsey Wilson on the board at 3:48 with a layup assisted by Claire Fleming, followed by a mid-range jumper by Taylor Guess on an assist by Saniyah Shelton, and a lone free throw by Natalie Gentry at 1:08. Bethel led the Blue Raiders 17-5 headed into the second quarter.

The Blue Raiders picked up the offense and defense in the second quarter outscoring the Wildcats 21-19. Guess and Shelton boosted the offensive brigade with Guess converting on a jumper at the top of the key at 9:33 with Grace Brewer finding Shelton who knocked down a deep three from the wing at 7:13 to cut the lead to 21-10. Lindsey Wilson closed out the first half on an 11-3 run that lasted 3:19 with three point contributions from Fleming and Janiya Davis to cut the Wildcat lead to 36-26 headed into the half. 

Thomas opened the scoring in the second half knocking down a corner three at 8:54 on an assist from Brewer putting the Blue Raiders within single digits at 38-29. Less than two minutes later, Shelton found Fleming who knocks down a three and Shelton picked up her fifth assist of the game. At 5:11 and 4:40, Guess and Fleming both knocked down another three cutting the Wildcat lead down to 46-39. Bethel picked up momentum towards the end of the quarter going on a 7-5 run and heading into the final ten minutes of action leading the Blue Raiders 61-49.

Gentry converted on a contested layup with 9:41 on the clock followed by a made free throw by Guess with 9:09 on the clock to put the Blue Raiders within nine. At 8:49, Bethel's Micah Hart knocked down a three which was then answered by Guess on the other end on a find by Fleming. After a made layup by Thomas at 7:59, there was a 2:43 drought where neither team converted on a shot until Guess converted on a contested layup cutting the lead to 66-59. With 0:21 on the clock Guess shot a three that was blocked and looked to be out of bounds until Gentry saved the ball inbounds, finding Thomas for an open layup on the block shortening the lead to 76-69. After two made free throws for Bethel's Madison Hart with 0:16, Shelton found the bottom of the net for three with 0:07 to play. The Wildcats connected on a pair of free throws to secure the 80-72 victory.

Lindsey Wilson will be back in action on Tuesday against Ohio Christian University, at 6 p.m. CST in Biggers Sports Center.