By Jaci Powell

With seven seniors and one last shot at a ring, the lady bulldogs left everything they had in Kingsport, becoming the Cinderella story of the year, breaking school records, and only coming up short in the championship game to the number one team. Starting the season with a new head coach and two new assistant coaches the seasons success was very up in the air, especially considering over half the team were seniors. The season was filled with many up and downs, eventually leading the team to end with a 18-13 record on the year and snagging the number 7 spot in the conference tournament. Going into the tournament, the lady bulldogs were viewed as a team that would not advance far but instead shocked all teams making the biggest run of the season and left their mark in the school history books.

The first game of a tournament is always the most nerve-raking. It’s the first game playing in a new atmosphere, and also the game teams absolutely DO NOT want to lose. This year was the second year in a row that the lady bulldogs faced the Union lady bulldogs in the first round. The Union lady bulldogs fought hard and brought the game to the wire, but Wesleyan lady bulldogs pulled through winning the game 60-57. In the second game the ladies faced #2 Johnson lady lions. This game had a very slow start with a low half-time score of 18-16 with the TWU lady bulldogs in the lead. The lady bulldogs had a big second half surge gaining a comfortable lead on the lady lions, which ultimately led to a 52-35 win. In the semi-finals game, the lady bulldogs faced off against the #3 Reinhardt lady eagle who beat the lady bulldogs by one in an intense overtime game earlier in the season. While this game was anticipated to be close, the lady bulldogs came out hot, shooting over 50% from the field and over 60% from the 3-point line. Collectively the lady bulldogs made 18 3-pointers breaking the current school record of 17 made 3’s in a game. Thanks to the hot hands, the lady bulldogs got an early jump on the lady eagles and held roughly a 20-point lead majority of the game. This big win was a great statement for the lady bulldogs to make going into the championship game against #1 Milligan lady buffs.

After such an incredible run the lady bulldogs had finally made it to the championship game against the lady buffs who had dominated most teams in the conference and beat the lady bulldogs twice earlier in the season. The lady bulldogs knew that a championship title was on the line and came out playing like it as well. The team held the lead majority of the game until the last few minutes when Milligan made some much-needed shots to push the game into overtime. During overtime play the lead was back and forth for much of the period, but in a very heartbreaking end Milligan pulled through thanks to their sharp shooting skills and won the game 79-75. Though this was not the outcome the lady bulldogs hoped for, it was still considered a great tournament run, and one the seniors can look back on and be proud of.

On Saturday, April 5th between Tennessee Wesleyan’s baseball double header against Truett McConnel, the lady bulldogs were recognized for their tremendous tournament run. Anna Crowder joined the 1000-point club against Reinhardt in the conference tournament and was recognized by this substantial achievement by receiving her 1000-point ball.  It was a season and a tournament worth recognizing, and we hope the next season will lead to more records broken and more great achievements.

Edited by Jordan Smith
Photos by MaKaylee Torbett