LINDSBORG – It just wasn't the Coyotes' night. A lackluster offensive effort coupled with a stellar defensive showing by the Bethany Swedes, Kansas Wesleyan dropped a 61-53 decision on Saturday night at Hahn Gym in Lindsborg.

It was the first loss for Wesleyan against Bethany since December 1, 2007 when the Swedes beat the Coyotes 77-67 at Hahn Gym. Wesleyan has now dropped six of its last nine contests, falling to 11-10 overall and 6-4 in the KCAC. The Coyotes also spoiled a perfect chance to gain ground on conference leading Friends who was routed by Ottawa earlier on Saturday afternoon.

Leading by a point at the half, the Coyotes held serve several times in the second half, going up by four points with 17:56 to go on a three by Rhys Pihl. Bethany would get back within a pair at the 15-minute mark when the Coyotes made an offensive charge that seemed to turn the tides in their favor. Five straight points by Christian Cassity put Wesleyan up seven, 44-37, with 13:58 to go forcing a Bethany timeout.

Whatever the Bethany coaching staff said during that timeout sparked the Swedes. Bethany promptly went on an 8-0 run to take a 45-44 lead with 8:05 to go on a bucket by Tanya Garner. The Coyotes missed seven shots and turned the ball over four times during Bethany's run.

Pihl gave the lead back to the Coyotes briefly with a bucket with 7:44 to go, but Heather Eddings scored for the Swedes to put them ahead for good with 7:30 to go.

Tanya Garner scored again for the Swedes to put them up three with 6:12 to go before a pair of free throws by Cassity got the Coyotes back within one with 5:29 left.

Free throws by Kendra Austin and Tasha Wagoner put the Swedes up by five with 3:52 to go. Stephanie Frost's score with 3:33 left got Wesleyan back within three at 53-50, but Kendra Austin's triple and a pair of Wagoner free throws sealed the deal and put the Swedes up nine at 60-51 with 1:14 to go.

Austin hit a free throw with 26.8 seconds left before Pihl scored with 18.7 to go to make thefinal score 61-53 in favor of the Swedes.

The first half was a struggle for the Coyotes as they shot just 32.3 percent from the field and had 10 turnovers.

Bethany took the early lead on Tasha Wagoner's bucket with 16:10 left, as neither team mustered any offense for nearly four minutes to open the game. A three by Rhys Pihl gave the Coyotes the lead back with 15:44 left and another triple by Christian Cassity put Wesleyan ahead 6-2 with 14:53 to go.

The Coyotes held the lead until the 11:44 mark when the Swedes capped a 7-2 run with a three by Nicole Felker to take a 9-8 lead.

Wesleyan answered back with five straight to take a 13-9 lead with 10:01 left. Bethany again rallied scoring the next six to take a 15-13 lead on Heather Eddings' score with 8:11 to go. Four straight by Alecia Smith put the Coyotes back up by a deuce. The teams would trade the lead for the 14th time in the first 20 minutes when Shelby Babcock buried a deep three with 23 seconds left that sent the Coyotes into the break up 30-29.

Cassity had 16 off the bench to pace Wesleyan who shot 19-of-63 from the field for 30.2 percent for the game. Frost had 11 and Pihl had 10 for the Coyotes. Smith led the Coyotes on the glass with nine rebounds, while Pihl also had eight.

Austin led the Swedes, who snapped an 11-game losing streak with the win, with 16 points as the Swedes were 21-of-60 from the field for 35 percent in the game. Wagoner added 14 points to go along with 10 rebounds as the Swedes outrebounded Wesleyan 47-42 in the game.

The Coyotes are back on the road on Thursday at Bethel before hosting Tabor next Saturday in Mabee Arena.