Starters All in Double Figures in Defeat of AIB
Jessie Kreuser (Sr., Mendota Heights, Minn., Physical Education) scored 13 first-half points en route to a game-best 22 points.
Oskaloosa–William Penn’s starting five nearly provided it all Wednesday in an 89-65 Midwest Collegiate Conference women’s basketball win over AIB.
The Statesmen (11-17, 4-7 MCC) snapped a four-game losing streak and kept the Eagles (5-23, 0-11 MCC) winless in league action by dominating on both ends of the floor. WPU shot 51.9% from the field and limited AIB to just 29.9% shooting. The hot shooting was actually integral to the win because keeping possession was an issue for the home team as it had 23 turnovers.
The evening’s first seven points were from the navy and gold, but the visitors came back with 10 of the next 12 to garner their only lead at 10-9. Highlighted by a 10-1 run just a few minutes later, though, WPU went up big and never trailed again.
The Statesmen’s 42-24 halftime lead ballooned to as much as 28 points at 59-31. AIB tried to make things interesting, but could get no closer than 18 in the second period.
Jessie Kreuser (Sr., Mendota Heights, Minn., Physical Education) scored 13 first-half points en route to a game-best 22 points. She was excellent at the charity stripe with a 12-for-13 effort and also posted 10 rebounds for her eighth double-double of the campaign. The Statesmen edged out the Eagles 42-38 on the glass.
Vanessa Kieres (Sr., Chicago, Ill., Exercise Science) was next with 19 points, while Janay Pritchett (Sr., Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Biology) added 17 with eight assists and three steals.
Katie Golomski (Milwaukee, Wis., Psychology & Sociology), with 12 points, and Alyssa Phillips (So., Gurnee, Ill., Communications), with 11, joined the aforementioned trio in double digits. Kieres and Golomski both made four three-pointers.
Kreuser and Golomski each blocked three shot attempts as well. A 24-for-35 mark at the line and an 11-for-20 clip behind the arc were also posted by the victors.
Asia Cochran (So., Belleville, Ill., Physical Education) came up with six points to pace the bench contributions.
Despite committing six more mistakes, WPU actually outscored AIB 19-14 in points off turnovers.
Next Up: William Penn wraps up its regular season in Dubuque Saturday as it faces Clarke in MCC action at 1 p.m.
