William Penn Athletic News January 8
William Penn Women's Athletics
Subbert Hits for 34 in 74-60 Victory over V-Hawks
La Crosse, Wis.–Christa Subbert (Sr., Stanton, Stanton HS) has been a thorn in many teams’ sides throughout her career, but never more than against Viterbo as she again torched the V-Hawk program in a 74-60 Midwest Collegiate Conference win Saturday.
Penn (11-6, 3-1 MCC) avoided the cursed letdown after a huge win (defeating #12 Iowa Wesleyan Wednesday) by jumping on Subbert’s shoulders and letting her carry the weight with her season-best 34-point tally (11-of-17 FG, 11-of-14 FT).
In seven career games against the V-Hawks (5-11, 0-3 MCC), the senior is averaging 23.9 points, compared to her career average of 16.7 points. Subbert scored a career-best 36 points two years ago against Viterbo.
Although leading the entire afternoon and owning a 51.0%-41.3% shooting edge, the Lady Statesmen were rarely in a comfortable position, including being ahead just 26-21 at intermission.
The home team pulled to within two points twice in the second half, but could never draw even. After its edge narrowed to 45-43 with 10:20 left, Penn scored 11 of the next 13 points to breathe a bit easier.
Viterbo then scored five in a row to make it 56-50, but after the squads exchanged buckets, the visitors answered with an 8-0 run of their own and were able to coast to victory.
It was a three-woman show for Penn as Samantha Darley (Sr., Gilbert, Ariz., Mesa CC), with 15 points, and Sarah Martin (So., Anthem, Ariz., Boulder Creek HS), with 14 points, also reached double figures. No other Lady Statesmen player scored more than three points.
Not only was she a force with her shooting stroke, but Subbert also led all participants with ten rebounds. The double-double is her second of the campaign.
“I am happy with this win,” Lady Statesmen Head Coach Brian Spielbauer said. “I thought Viterbo played a good game and we had to fight hard to pull it out. I look forward to going to Grand View on Wednesday.”
Next: Penn travels to Des Moines Wednesday to face Grand View in MCC play at 5:30 p.m.
Burnett Qualifies for Nationals with Win at Ashford Race Walk
Sterling, Ill.–Katie Burnett (Sr., Mesa, Ariz., Arizona) gave notice Saturday that her senior year could very well be her best ever as she dominated the competition in the Ashford Race Walk.
Burnett finished the 3,000-meter indoor event with a blazing time of 15:22.18. Not only did she beat the other two athletes in the race (both men) fairly handily, but she also crushed the NAIA’s automatic qualifying time of 17:59.
The four-time NAIA All-American is seeking her first national title, finishing as high as second in last year’s indoor meet.
“Katie walked an awesome race especially after competing in two races just eight days earlier,” Penn Track and Field Coach Allen Friesen said.
Next: Penn travels to Cedar Falls next Saturday to compete in the Northern Iowa Panther Open.
Losing Streak Continues in Road Loss to Viterbo
La Crosse, Wis.–The warm temperatures inside R.W. Beggs Senior Gymnasium failed to heat up the Penn men’s basketball team as it fell again, this time to Viterbo 80-58 in Midwest Collegiate Conference action Saturday.
The Statesmen (9-8, 1-3 MCC), who have now lost four in a row, shot just 25.3% overall but stayed close with the V-Hawks (3-14, 1-2 MCC) for the duration of the afternoon.
Penn trailed just 37-34 at the break and came out of the locker room strong, claiming its first and only leads in the first few minutes of the second stanza.
The team, despite an abysmal 19.5% clip following intermission, never let the home team’s advantage balloon to above ten, in fact cutting the deficit to four with only 4:53 remaining.
Unfortunately, everything unraveled from there as the Statesmen gave up 18 unanswered points to end the contest.
Beyond the poor shooting was the fact that Penn was also called for nine more fouls (24-15) than Viterbo, resulting in 22 fewer free throw attempts and 15 fewer conversions. The visitors were able to outrebound the V-Hawks 52-50 (27 on the offensive end), good for a 15-9 edge in second-chance points.
The Statesmen also committed one less turnover (16-17), but Viterbo was more opportunistic with a 22-10 margin in points off mistakes. Viterbo shot 46.3% overall.
Huzie Hambrite (Jr., Indianapolis, Ind., Ball State) led Penn’s scoring with 14 points, while Blake Walker (Fr., Smyrna, Ga., Campbell HS) and Wiebe Goodyk (So., Oskaloosa, Iowa Central CC) were next with eight points each.
Boris Bobic (Sr., Subotica, Serbia, Lakeland CC) and Walter Herron (Jr., Houston, Texas, Westfield HS), in his season debut, added seven points. Herron also ripped down a team-high nine rebounds and led all players with five steals off the bench.
Alan Douglas (Jr., Champaign, Ill., Lakeland CC) finished with six points.
“Huzie Hambrite played really hard for us tonight,” Statesmen Head Coach John Henry said. “We also got great bench performances from Walter Herron and Boris Bobic.”
“We are at rock bottom right now and the only way to get back up will be by working hard,” Henry added.
Next: Penn travels to Des Moines Wednesday to face Grand View in MCC play at 7:30 p.m.
Five Place at Home Tournament
Oskaloosa–Three Statesmen grapplers claimed bronze as the wrestling program hosted the 2nd Annual William Penn Open Saturday.
In an event where no team scores were kept, Penn showed off its impressive youth as five freshmen placed in the top five at the Open.
Brandon Smith (Fr., Malcom, BGM HS) paced the way with a 4-1 record at 157 pounds. The freshman won his first two matches (one by fall) before falling to eventual bracket champion Mike Kelly of Iowa in the semifinals.
He regrouped and claimed two more wins by decision to earn the bronze.
Fellow third-place finishers included 133-pounder Tyler Schneider (Fr., Belleville, Mich., Belleville HS) and 174-pounder Joe Sumner (Fr., Delaware, Ohio, Rutherford B. Hayes HS). Schneider was 3-1 with one major decision, while Sumner was 2-1 with a pair of falls.
Jason Mozley (Fr., Arlington, Texas, Martin HS), who took fourth at 149 pounds, and Roy Torres (Fr., Yuma, Ariz., Cibola HS), who ended the afternoon fifth at 285 pounds, were both 1-2 Saturday. Torres won one match by fall.
Next: Penn stays at home Wednesday to host Grand View in dual meet action at 7 p.m.
Wade Steinlage
