WPU Fails to Cool Off Yellowjackets in Road Bout
Lamoni–The William Penn women’s basketball team was resourceful from behind the arc, but it was too little as the Statesmen fell 75-62 to Graceland in Heart of America Athletic Conference play Monday.
The Statesmen (3-13, 2-10 Heart) knocked down 10 three-pointers, but were outshot 52.8%-33.8% in a game where they were unable to keep up with the Yellowjackets in the second half.
Leading 7-6 midway through the first quarter, long balls by Aiesha Feagins (Jr., Grand Prairie, Texas, Applied Mathematics) and Aysia Arrowood (Jr., Wichita, Kan., Sports Management) extended the visitors’ edge to 13-6. Unfortunately, the navy and gold behind 19-18 by the end of the opening period, but continued to stick with GU (8-8, 6-6 Heart) and grabbed the advantage back at 31-29 on a trifecta from Ally Stewart (Sr., Victoria, Australia, Sports Management).
The home squad jumped on top again, however, eventually leading 39-37 at intermission. Stewart put another deep shot through the netting in the early moments of the third stanza for a 42-39 lead, but William Penn could not hold off Graceland as it was outscored 21-13 in the quarter.
The Statesmen failed to come up with an answer down the stretch, falling to the Yellowjackets for the second time this year.
WPU was guided by Stewart with 21 points. The senior was 7-for-17 from the floor, including a 5-for-13 mark via the perimeter.
Alyssa Hames (Jr., Ackley, Iowa, Psychology) was next with 16 points, while Feagins (12) and Arrowood (10) also reached double figures.
Stewart and Hames each pulled down six rebounds, while the visitors lost the category 40-30. Feagins dished out a team-best four assists, while she and Stewart each stole three balls from Graceland.
The Statesmen were slightly more successful in ball control with 15 turnovers (16 for GU), which translated into a 19-14 edge in points off mistakes for William Penn.
The visiting crew was proficient at the line, but only got there 10 times (8-for-10), while the Yellowjackets finished 13-for-20.
“I am really proud of this group and their fight today,” Head Coach Joe McKinstry said. “We did a lot of things well with people playing extended minutes and out of their natural positions. If we can build on this effort, we will continue to put ourselves in competitive games and ultimately come out on top.”
Next Up: William Penn returns to Oskaloosa Thursday to host Mount Mercy in Heart play at 5:30 p.m.
