The Culver-Stockton women's basketball team used a strong first half to build a 19-point lead and then held off a late Baker rally to post an 82-72 victory at Charles Field House Saturday afternoon.

After a frantic first quarter that saw each team shoot over 60 percent from the field and ended with with the Wildcats holding a 27-4 lead.

C-SC continued its torrid pace in the second quarter by making 59 percent of its field goal attempts while holding the visitors to just 36 percent shooting and outscoring Baker 27-11 to take a 54-35 lead at the intermission. The 54 points in the first half was season high for the Wildcats.

However, C-SC cooled off considerably in the second half, shooting just 33 percent (8-24) in the second half, including just 1-for-7 in the fourth quarter. That resulted in Baker outscoring the hosts 21-15 in the third quarter to get back to within 13 points at 69-56 after three quarters.

In the fourth period, the Wildcats made their only field goal of the quarter with 8:11 to play on a 3-pointer by Misora Nambara to give C-SC a 72-58.

Two free throws by Avery Oetting with 3:57 to play gave C-SC a 74-62 lead but Baker scored the next seven points to pull with five points at 74-69 with 2:09 to play.

Neither team could score over the next one minute, 14 seconds and Oetting took things into her own hands by draining eight straight free throws in the final 45 seconds to seal the victory for the Wildcats.

Oetting finished with a game-high 25 points, which was a season high for the junior from Hallsville, Mo. Oetting connected on all 14 of her free throw attempts, including a 10-for-10 effort in the final quarter. She also led the way with seven rebounds and five steals.

Katie Webb got the Wildcats off to the fast first half start and finished with 19 points before fouling out with three minutes left in the game. Nambara chipped in with 12 markers.

The Wildcats, now 5-2 overall and 2-1 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference, are slated to play their third straight home game this Tuesday, Nov. 26, against William Penn University, Game time is set for 5:30 p.m. at Charles Field House.