No. 2 Lady Wildcats Open Season with Dominant 71-51 Road Win Over Mount Mercy

CANTON, Mo. — The second-ranked Bethel Lady Wildcats tipped off their 2025–26 campaign in style Saturday evening, cruising to a 71-51 victory over Mount Mercy in the season opener in the Atrium Classic in Canton, Missouri. A balanced attack and stifling defense set the tone early, as Bethel jumped out to an 18-6 first-quarter lead and never looked back.

The Lady Wildcats (1-0) controlled the game from start to finish, shooting nearly 50% from the field while holding Mount Mercy to just 35%. Bethel's depth proved to be a major difference, outscoring the Mustangs 36-25 in bench points and dominating the paint by a 38-10 margin.

Sophomore guard Micah Hart led the way with 12 points, three rebounds, and two steals, and showing efficiency from the line by going a perfect 4-for-4. Junior forward MJ Simmons made an immediate impact, scoring 12 points on 6-of-7 shooting while adding five rebounds and two blocks in 20 minutes.

Veteran Madison Hart anchored the inside presence with a near double-double—nine points and 11 rebounds—while Mikee Buchanan contributed eight points, five boards, and three assists in an all-around effort. Lauren Bryant provided a spark off the bench, connecting on three of her four three-point attempts for nine points in just nine minutes of action.

Bethel's team-oriented play was evident throughout the contest. Eleven Wildcats found the scoring column, and the squad assisted on 14 of its 29 made baskets. Defensively, Bethel forced 20 Mount Mercy turnovers that led to 22 points the other way, showcasing the high-pressure system head coach Chris Nelson has built the program around.

For Mount Mercy (0-1), Sadie Struchen led the Mustangs with 12 points, hitting four three-pointers, while Aubrey Luvan added 10 points. Despite a strong shooting performance from beyond the arc (44%), the Mustangs struggled to find consistent scoring inside against Bethel's length and physicality.

After leading 36-18 at halftime, the Lady Wildcats maintained control through the second half, shooting an impressive 60% from the floor over the final two quarters to seal the 20-point win.

The victory marks a strong start for a Bethel team with high expectations entering the season. The Lady Wildcats will return to action on Sunday as they continue their road swing against Culver-Stockton at 3:00 PM CST.

Stats Link: Bethel at Culver-Stockton (MO) | PrimeTime | Sun, Oct. 26, 2025 3:00 PM CDT

Video Link: Culver-Stockton College