Statesmen End Pre-Holiday Slate with 60-54 Loss to Bethel (Kan.)
North Newton, Kan.–Despite pulling down the same number of rebounds as its host, the William Penn women’s basketball team could not stop Bethel (Kan.) on its additional offensive tries in falling 60-54 in non-conference play Wednesday.
The Statesmen (7-8) and Threshers (7-5) both struggled from the field with the home squad winning the field battle 32.8%-29.0%. In the end, however, the visitors allowed 24 second-chance points off of 15 offensive rebounds in the road loss.
William Penn, which tied Bethel with 51 rebounds, led 4-0 and 6-2 early, but the Threshers went on a 13-2 run and never trailed again. The navy and gold walked into the locker room down 29-22.
The second half was unfortunately not any better as Bethel pulled out a 16-point lead with just over six minutes left. A 15-3 WPU run closed the gap to four inside the final minute of play, but back-to-back empty possessions ended the night for the Statesmen.
Dani Stahle (Sr., South Weber, Utah, History/Government & Psychology) topped the offense with 12 points in addition to two steals. Lauren McKinnis (Sr., Chicago, Ill., Sociology) also met the double-digit mark with ten points.
Brittany May (Sr., Gladstone, Ore., Biology) finished with nine points, while Jessie Kreuser (Jr., Mendota Heights, Minn., Undecided), with seven, and Megan Evangelista (Sr., Chanhassen, Minn., Biology), with six, also contributed in the contest.
“We just did not have the proper focus tonight and paid for it,” Head Coach Mike Brown said. “We must regroup over break.”
Next: William Penn is off until the New Year, returning to play on Saturday, January 11 by hosting St. Ambrose in its Midwest Collegiate Conference opener at 1 p.m.