Statesmen Take Down Haskell Indian Nations 84-68
William Penn University Athletics
Oskaloosa–Perimeter success paced the William Penn women’s basketball team to a win in its final home game before the holiday break, defeating Haskell Indian Nations (Kan.) 84-68 in non-conference action Saturday.
The Statesmen (7-5), winners of three in a row, made 12 three-pointers and overcame being outshot 46.3%-41.7%.
The home team’s defense was impressive in the early minutes, holding the Indians (2-10) to a 1-for-11 start. WPU took advantage, jumping out to a few 17-point edges. The lead was pushed to as high as 20 at 43-23 before HINU responded with an 11-1 run to make it 44-34 at halftime.
The visitors continued to chip away as the margin slimmed to eight points early in the second stanza. Fortunately, the Statesmen would not allow the Indians to get any closer. Katie Golomski (Jr., Milwaukee, Wis., Psychology & Sociology) hit four second-half three-pointers to keep HINU at bay. She finished 8-for-16 from the field (6-for-12 3-PT, 2-for-2 FT) for a game-high 24 points. William Penn was 42.9% from behind the arc
Jessie Kreuser (Jr., Mendota Heights, Minn., Physical Education) added 12 points and a contest-high eight rebounds. The victors won the rebounding battle 41-29, including an 18-10 edge on the offensive glass that led to a 9-5 margin in second-chance points.
Brittany May (Sr., Gladstone, Ore., Biology), with 11 points, and Dani Stahle (Sr., South Weber, Utah, History/Government & Psychology), with ten, also reached double figures.
Lauren McKinnis (Sr., Chicago, Ill., Sociology) added seven points in the win, while Janay Pritchett (Jr., Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Biology & Sociology) dished out five assists. Golomski and Kreuser stole two passes Saturday.
Each side struggled to possess the leather with WPU having two fewer turnovers (18-20). Both took advantage of those mistakes, but William Penn was a bit better at it with a 29-20 edge in points off turnovers. The hosts were also 22-for-29 at the charity stripe (HINU was 16-for-22).
“We were really hitting shots in the first half against their zone and Jessie was active inside in the early minutes,” Head Coach Mike Brown said. “Katie was on fire all game.”
“We keep having some prolonged droughts,” Brown added. “We just need to be sharper at times, but this was still a good team win. We look to value our home floor and we did that today.”
Next: William Penn travels to Pella Wednesday to face Central in non-conference action at 8 p.m.
