WPU Starts Year with Difficult Challenge Against No. 2 Dakota Wesleyan

Mitchell, S.D.–The Statesmen women’s basketball team started its campaign versus an extremely tough foe, falling 93-39 to No. 2 Dakota Wesleyan in the opener of the CorTrust Classic Friday.

William Penn (0-1) was outshot 55.6%-28.8% and outrebounded 45-17 by the Tigers (1-0). The squad unfortunately also committed 18 turnovers, while DWU had just nine mistakes.

The home team scored the first points of the night, but Laney Parker (Sr., Springfield, Ill., Business Management) put the navy and gold on top for their one and only time at 3-2 on a three-pointer just 1:19 into the contest.

Another Parker trifecta pulled the visitors to within three at 9-6, but Dakota Wesleyan answered with a 9-0 run and rolled out to a 32-12 advantage after 10 minutes of play. Parker finished with 10 points.

While the second and third periods were dominated by the Tigers as they extended the advantage to 81-26, the Statesmen continued to battle and actually held a 13-12 edge in the fourth quarter.

At game’s end, Reagan Pavesi (Sr., Austin, Texas, Wellness and Recreation) guided the Statesmen with 12 points, while also recording four rebounds and five assists. Aliya Wagamon (So., Oskaloosa, Iowa, Psychology) matched Parker with 10 points of her own.

Chudear Mach (Jr., Des Moines, Iowa, Kinesiology) contributed four rebounds and two steals off the bench.

“We knew we would have our hands full with Dakota Wesleyan,” Head Coach Dewitt Mandley said. “It is disappointing when you work and prepare to play a certain way, and just do not do that. That is what great teams do, they disrupt what you are trying to do. It is early, though, and this was a great test for us. We will live, learn, and get better for the next one.”

Next Up: William Penn remains in Mitchell, S.D. Saturday to face Concordia (Neb.) at 1 p.m.