Statesmen Fail to Upset Mount Mercy at Home
Janay Pritchett had to work hard for her game-high 25 points Photo by Oskaloosa News
Oskaloosa–A second-half challenge came up short as the William Penn women’s basketball team fell 82-74 to Mount Mercy in Midwest Collegiate Conference play Saturday.
The Statesmen (8-12, 1-4 MCC) bolted out to an 8-2, but a 12-5 run by the Mustangs (15-7, 4-1 MCC) put the visitors up for good. Mount Mercy entered the game ranked unofficially 30th in NAIA Division II.
Both sides struggled from the field in the first stanza (MMU outshot WPU 33.3%-29.4%), but 17-for-19 free-throw showing by the Mustangs helped them to a 30-15 edge with 8:17 on the clock. Fortunately, the navy and gold fought back to cut the deficit to 41-37 at intermission.
Both teams warmed up in the second half with the visitors again a bit better at 52.2%-43.6%. Fortunately, 16 more shots allowed the home team to narrow the margin to two on five occasions in the opening half of the second period. The Statesmen failed to ever get back on top though.
Down only 65-62 with 7:56 on the clock, an 8-2 MMU run put the contest away.
William Penn was outshot 41.1%-37.0% in the end, but a 34-18 edge at the charity stripe for the Mustangs truly was the back-breaker. Six fewer turnovers (11-17) assisted WPU in outscoring its opponent 9-2 in points off turnovers.
Janay Pritchett (Jr., Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Biology & Sociology) was her team’s offensive star with 25 points on 10-for-21 shooting. She also recorded four steals.
Dani Stahle (Sr., South Weber, Utah, History/Government & Psychology) added 17 points. She and Katie Golomski (Jr., Milwaukee, Wis., Psychology & Sociology) had seven boards each, but the Statesmen were outrebounded 46-41.
Alyssa Phillips (Fr., Gurnee, Ill., Communications) also hit the double-digit mark with ten points, while Jessie Kreuser (Jr., Mendota Heights, Minn., Undecided) added eight points. Katie Golomski (Jr., Milwaukee, Wis., Psychology & Sociology) managed a six-point effort.
Next: William Penn travels to Des Moines Wednesday to face Grand View in MCC action at 5:30 p.m.
