Statesmen Keep Rolling with Season-Best Shooting Effort
William Penn University Athletics
by Wade Steinlage
Springfield, Mo.–Jenna Santi (Jr., Oak Creek, Wis., Elementary Education) and Vashti Nwagbaraocha (Jr., Milwaukee, Wis., Exercise Science) were both perfect from the field and the William Penn women’s basketball team dominated the middle two quarters as it defeated Evangel 72-45 in Heart of America Athletic Conference play Saturday.
WPU (9-3, 3-0 Heart), which won its season-high fourth game in a row, is 3-0 in league play for the first time since switching to the NAIA in 2001-2002. The program’s 9-3 start is also its best since being 9-3 in 1988-1989 as well.
Saturday’s contest opened as a see-saw battle featuring a pair of ties and five lead changes. The Statesmen trailed 17-15 after 10 minutes of action, but behind eight points from Nwagbaraocha, the navy and gold outscored EU 17-3 in the second period and led 32-20 at intermission. The junior finished 8-for-8 overall for a team-best 16 points.
William Penn hit a season-high 52.9% of its tries (58.3% in the latter 20 minutes) and was incredibly impressive in the third with 26 points, compared to only 10 for the Crusaders (1-9, 0-3 Heart) and cruised to the win over EU. The home crew was limited to just 32.7% from the floor.
The victors were also strong at the line with a season-high 84.6%, while ending up 41.2% from deep as well. Santi made three of WPU’s seven three-pointers as part of her 15-point showing. She was 4-for-4 on the afternoon and 4-for-4 at the charity stripe, while also assisting three times.
Sarah Hansen (Sr., Kewanee, Ill., Psychology and Human Services) connected on three more trifectas (11 points total) and also posted three assists.
Kate Ylitalo (So., Maple Plain, Minn., Biology) matched Santi with 15 points; the sophomore was 6-for-9 Saturday.
Sham Troupe (Jr., St. Louis, Mo.) did not have a strong shooting day, but did guide the Statesmen on the glass with seven rebounds; William Penn held a 32-26 rebounding edge.
The Statesmen committed 14 turnovers, while turning over their hosts 18 times.
“We had a great team effort on offense with four players in double figures,” Head Coach Steve Williamson said. “Our defense was awesome in the second and third quarters and that really opened things up, creating a lot of easy baskets in transition for us.”
Next Up: William Penn is off until after the holidays, returning to Oskaloosa on January 3 to host #9 Benedictine in Heart play at 5:30 p.m.
