WPU Loses Top-25 Battle in Overtime
Oskaloosa–The Statesmen women’s basketball team was unable to finish off a season sweep of a major league foe as it fell 66-63 in overtime to #19 Clarke in a Heart of America Athletic Conference matchup Thursday.
#20 William Penn (15-5, 11-4 Heart), which saw its five-game winning streak come to an end, has flip-flopped positions with the Pride (18-4, 12-4 Heart), dropping to third in the conference standings.
Thursday’s battle featured nine ties and 10 lead changes, but unfortunately, the 10th and last lead change came from CU.
The navy and gold posted a seven-point advantage–the largest of the contest–on three occasions in the first half. Up 20-15 after one quarter, the Statesmen were rallied against and went into the locker room tied at 32-32.
WPU remained on top for much of the second half as well, but the Pride closed out both the third and fourth periods strong, eventually posting the last five points of regulation to force overtime at 55-55.
The hosts opened the extra period yet again in the lead and were ahead 63-59 closing in on the final minute. Unfortunately, Clarke scored seven unanswered to avenge WPU’s 69-62 win on December 2. A tying three-pointer at the buzzer by Olivia Usher (Sr., Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Mathematics) would not fall in the setback.
William Penn outshot the visitors 40.7%-38.6%, but were outrebounded 39-33. Despite coming up short in offensive rebounds (12-8), the Statesmen outscored the Pride 9-4 in second-chance points. The home squad had one fewer turnover (12-13) as well, leading to a 14-7 mark in points off mistakes.
The difference came at both the free-throw line with CU holding a 13-8 edge in made tries and behind the arc with the visitors making two more trifectas (9-7).
Bailey Reardon (Fr., River Falls, Wis., Elementary Education) connected on six of her 12 field goals to pace the Statesmen with 16 points off the bench.
Kate Ylitalo (Sr., Maple Plain, Minn., Biology) knocked down three long balls in a 14-point effort, while Brenda Pennington (Sr., Hammond, Ind., Psychology) also reached double figures with 10 points. Pennington assisted on seven baskets as well.
Haley Mullinnix (Jr., West Branch, Iowa, Sports Management) was next with seven points and a team-high seven rebounds, while Brittany West (Jr., Shakopee, Minn., Sports Management) and Autumn Voigt (Sr., Clintonville, Wis., Business Management) each contributed six points. Voigt and Ylitalo both stole two passes Thursday.
Next Up: William Penn travels to Springfield, Mo. Saturday to face Evangel in Heart action at 12 p.m.
