Back-and-Forth Battle Slips Away Late

LOUISVILLE, KY – The Blackburn College women's basketball team took on Spalding University in SLIAC action Wednesday night. The Beavers showed grit, pace, and flashes of offensive rhythm throughout a hard-fought contest, battling from start to finish before falling late as Spalding pulled away in the fourth quarter, 78–56.

Leading the way for Blackburn were junior Kenadee Frey and senior Kailynn Kruep. Frey finished with a team-high 17 points and shot 75 percent from the free-throw line. Kruep added 12 points and led the team in rebounds alongside senior Becca Benoit, as both players pulled down five boards.

Blackburn set the tone early with aggressive defense and transition play. Junior Cheresse Mitchell sparked the opening run with back-to-back fastbreak layups, helping Blackburn jump out to a 6–0 lead. The Beavers continued to pressure the ball, forcing turnovers and turning defense into offense, while Frey and junior Eiz Allende Quinones contributed inside scoring and free throws to keep Blackburn ahead through much of the first quarter. Despite a late Spalding push, Blackburn closed the opening period within one, down just 15–14.

In the second quarter, Blackburn briefly regained control. Kruep knocked down a key three-pointer, and Elexus Frey added another from deep to stretch the lead. Junior India Harris attacked the paint effectively, while Blackburn's defense generated steals that led to easy baskets. However, Spalding responded with timely shooting to trim the margin. At halftime, the game remained tight, with neither team able to fully seize momentum.

The third quarter turned into a back-and-forth battle. Blackburn leaned on balanced scoring from Allende Quinones,  Kenadee Frey, and Kruep, with multiple possessions ending in strong finishes at the rim. Defensive hustle remained evident, as Blackburn forced turnovers and grabbed key rebounds. A late three from Kruep gave Blackburn a brief cushion, and the Beavers entered the fourth quarter very much in the fight, tied at 43.

Early in the fourth, Blackburn briefly retook the lead behind clutch free throws from Kenadee Frey and a jumper from Kruep. Spalding responded with a decisive run fueled by transition baskets and three-point shooting. Blackburn continued to compete, getting late buckets from Harris, Kruep, and senior Zoe Mitchell, but Spalding's sustained offense and trips to the free-throw line widened the gap. Blackburn played to the final horn, adding late scores in the paint, but ultimately fell 78–56.

The Beavers will travel to Fulton, Missouri, to take on the Westminster Blue Jays this Saturday, with tipoff set for 1:00 p.m.