WPU Snatches North Division Title, Tourney Bye
Vashti Nwagbaraocha had 18 points and 3 steals in the win over Clarke.
by Wade Steinlage
Oskaloosa–The Statesmen women’s basketball team was far from its best Saturday, but still extended its winning streak with a 62-52 Heart of America Athletic Conference victory over Clarke.
William Penn (21-5, 15-2 Heart) won its eighth-straight contest (ties longest streak since 2010-2011) to remain in a tie with Central Methodist at the top of the Heart’s overall standings with two games left in the regular season.
Equally important, the navy and gold claimed the unofficial North Division crown, which gives them a bye in the league tournament’s opening round.
The hosts came out strong as it more than doubled the Pride (17-10, 9-8 Heart) after the opening stanza. WPU outshot CU 45.0%-21.4% to lead the visitors 21-9 and then pushed the advantage at halftime to 35-19.
William Penn has done well in the third quarter this year, but could not figure out Clarke in the early minutes as the Pride tallied the first 10 points. Fortunately, the Statesmen slowly turned things around and got to double digits in the period to stay on top 45-37 with 10 minutes left to play.
Despite only making 26.1% of their shots down the stretch, the Statesmen were not threatened late as they tied for the ninth-most wins in program history. Their 21 wins are the most for the navy and gold since the 1987-1988 campaign.
Both crews were cold from the field with CU actually outshooting WPU 34.5%-31.9%. Neither crew did much from the perimeter (WPU won at 23.8%-17.4%) nor at the line (WPU won at 61.1%-58.8%).
The Pride also posted a 50-40 margin in rebounds (14-3 edge in second-chance points).
In addition to keeping Clarke’s shooting clip low, William Penn managed to take the win by forcing the visiting team into 26 turnovers (11 for WPU). In addition to allowing WPU to take 17 more shot attempts, those 26 turnovers were converted into a 20-10 mark in points off mistakes.
Kate Ylitalo (So., Maple Plain, Minn., Biology) was the lone Statesmen to make more than half of her attempts (8-for-12) en route to a 20-point performance.
Vashti Nwagbaraocha (Jr., Milwaukee, Wis., Exercise Science) was also solid from the field (6-for-13) for 18 points. The junior stole three passes as well; William Penn finished with 14 thefts.
Jenna Santi (Jr., Oak Creek, Wis., Sports Management) was the third member of WPU’s double-digit club with 13 points in addition to five assists.
Tyra Johnson (Jr., Calumet City, Ill., Exercise Science) had only three points, but paced the victors with nine rebounds. With just two points, Sham Troupe (Jr., St. Louis, Mo.) also produced in other ways with eight rebounds and a squad-best four steals.
Next Up: William Penn travels to Des Moines next Wednesday to face Grand View in Heart action at 5:30 p.m.
