Statesmen Run Out of Gas Against League Champions
William Penn University Athletics
Fayette, Mo.–A spirited effort was not enough to get the William Penn women’s basketball team past the league’s top program in an 86-74 loss to #13 Central Methodist in Heart of America Athletic Conference action Wednesday.
The Statesmen (13-15, 10-11 Heart) owned a 35-31 halftime edge, but the visitors could not overcome turnover trouble in falling to the Eagles (25-2, 20-1 Heart), who earned the outright conference title with the win.
WPU scored the game’s first seven points and were up 15-7 before the hosts battled back to tie the game at 15-15 after 10 minutes of action. Another big run helped the navy and gold pull out to a nine-point margin before settling for a 35-31 halftime advantage.
Again up nine early in the third period, the Statesmen watched CMU shift into a higher gear and capture its first lead and never give it back. Compounding WPU’s problems was the fact that Alyssa Phillips (Jr., Gurnee, Ill., Communications) fouled out midway through the stanza; she ended the night with 10 points.
Central Methodist extended the margin to a dozen, but William Penn was a worthy foe, climbing to within four twice. Unfortunately, its 26 turnovers cemented the deal as the Eagles turned them into 33 points (18 CMU mistakes resulted in 16 WPU points).
The Statesmen kept it quite interesting by outshooting the home team 46.2%-36.5% and outrebounding it 40-33; their 10 offensive boards netted 12 points. A 23-12 deficit at the line, though, also made life difficult for the visitors.
In Phillips’ absence, Dezarea Duckworth (So., Bryant, Ark., Exercise Science) stepped up for the best outing of her collegiate career. The sophomore was 9-for-17 from the floor (1-for-1 3-PT) for 19 points.
Kadejah Young (Sr., Minneapolis, Minn., Physical Education) was in double figures as well with 11 points.
Vashti Nwagbaraocha (Fr., Milwaukee, Wis., Exercise Science) only finished with eight points, but did just about everything else Wednesday. The freshman also managed eight rebounds, six steals, three blocks, and three steals–all team highs.
Ashlee Harper (Sr., Los Angeles, Calif., Education) and Destiny Spinner (Sr., Saginaw, Mich., Biology) concluded the contest with seven points each.
“The game plan was to apply pressure and guard the three-point line,” Head Coach Willie Scott said. “We had them right where we wanted them in the first half. Unfortunately, we came out flat in the third quarter and Central Methodist is too good of a team to have a bad quarter against. They played like the best team in the conference after halftime.”
“I am proud of our ladies,” Scott added. “They played their hearts out, but we ran out of gas in the end.”
Next Up: William Penn returns to Oskaloosa Saturday to host Baker (Kan.) in Heart play at 2 p.m. The regular season finale will also serve as Senior Day.
