BETHANY, W.Va. – A slow start and a rough finish were too much for the Geneva College women's basketball team to overcome as the Golden Tornadoes dropped their Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) opener at Bethany on Wednesday night, 54-41.  Bethany improved to 4-2, 1-0 in the PAC, while Geneva fell to 1-3, 0-1 in the PAC.
 
The game could not have started any worse for Geneva.  Bethany jumped out to a 17-1 lead seven minutes into the game, and it wasn't until two minutes remained in the first quarter before Geneva finally got a basket to drop from senior Callie Ford (New Middleton, Ohio/Springfield Local).  By that time the score was 19-3, with Geneva's first three points coming from the free throw line. Despite the poor start, though, Geneva was able to respond.  The Golden Tornadoes got themselves back into the game with a 16-4 run over the remainder of the half to close to within 23-19 at the break.
 
Bethany held that lead through most of the third quarter, but Geneva tied the game at 37-37 on a long 3-pointer from Ford early in the fourth quarter, Geneva's first tie since the game began.  However, Bethany responded with back-to-back 3-pointers, and the Bison used those baskets to finish the game on a 17-4 run, eventually winning 54-41. 
 
"We dug ourselves a big hole in the first quarter," Head Coach Lori Wynn said.  "We showed some great fight to come back but we need to improve upon the little things."
 
Ford led the way offensively with 23 points.  She also added eight rebounds and four steals.  Sophomore Lauren Tipton (Glenside, Pa./Phil-Mont Christian Academy) added nine points.  Geneva shot just 15-of-55 (27%) from the floor, including just 2-of-21 (9%) from 3-point range.   Bethany shot just 36%, but the Bison outrebounded Geneva 46-35, including grabbing 15 offensive rebounds.  Bethany was led Ashley Duthie, who finished with 14 points.
 
After opening the season with four straight road games, Geneva will finally get a chance to play at home on Saturday as it welcomes Washington & Jefferson at 1:00 p.m.  It marks the first of seven straight home games for the Golden Tornadoes.


Geneva College is a Christ-centered academic community that provides a comprehensive education to equip students for faithful and fruitful service to God and neighbor. Offering over 80 traditional undergraduate majors and programs, fully online Adult Degree Programs, and high-demand graduate degrees, Geneva's programs are recognized for their high quality. U.S. News & World Report ranks Geneva as a Top Three Best Value Regional University with one of the Top 100 engineering programs in the nation. Adhering to the truth of Scripture, a Geneva education is grounded in God's Word as well as in a core curriculum designed to prepare students vocationally to think, write and communicate well in today's world.