WPU Succumbs to Bees on Senior Day
Jessie Kreuser paced the Statesmen with 20 points against St. Ambrose on Saturday.
Oskaloosa–The Statesmen women’s basketball team failed to pick up a big upset in a 69-63 Senior Day loss to Midwest Collegiate Conference foe St. Ambrose Saturday.
William Penn (10-17, 3-7 MCC), which was paced by 20 points from Jessie Kreuser (Sr., Mendota Heights, Minn., Physical Education), led 37-35 at intermission, but was held to 28.1% second-half shooting (37.7% overall).
The hosts scored the first 10 points of the afternoon and eventually extended the lead to 12 at 24-12. St. Ambrose (17-7, 8-2 MCC) remained in WPU’s rearview until finally taking its first advantage–one it never relinquished–at 51-48 with 9:43 to go in regulation.
The Statesmen fell behind by as much as nine, but then pulled to within four with 1:14 on the clock. In a game where both teams were poor from the line, the Queen Bees actually left the door open by missing four late free throws. WPU could unfortunately get no closer, coming up empty in its final four trips down the floor. SAU, which shot 45.0% from the field, was 9-for-18 at the stripe, while William Penn finished 9-for-20.
Janay Pritchett (Sr., Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Biology) joined Kreuser in double digits with 16 points, while Katie Golomski (Milwaukee, Wis., Psychology & Sociology) and Alyssa Phillips (So., Gurnee, Ill., Communications) added nine points each. Phillips just missed a double-double with ten rebounds, whereas Golomski managed seven assists.
Vanessa Kieres (Sr., Chicago, Ill., Exercise Science) tallied six points as the starting five accounted for all but three of WPU’s points. Kreuser and Phillips both stole four passes as well.
The navy and gold recorded a 42-39 margin on the glass (10-6 in second-chance points). Despite committing three more turnovers than SAU, the hosts also outscored the visiting team 12-8 in points off turnovers.
Next Up: William Penn remains in Oskaloosa next Wednesday to host AIB in MCC play at 5:30 p.m.
