William Penn Slips by Grand View for Win in Annual Toilet Paper Game
#3 Sara Martin drives for two against Grand View
Oskaloosa–In front of a packed house in Penn Gymnasium, the Statesmen basketball team overcame a sluggish outing to remain perfect in the Midwest Collegiate Conference with a 73-65 win over Grand View Wednesday.
#2 William Penn (22-1, 6-0 MCC) collected its eighth-consecutive victory, but it was anything but easy or pretty as the squad was playing without starter Arman Rasul (Sr., Chicago, Ill., Sociology) for the first time. Rasul, who injured his foot last Saturday, is expected to be out of action until late in the season.
After coming up short on their first trip down the floor, the traditional double-ply was launched all over the hardwood after Brandon Beasley (Sr., Indianapolis, Ind., Physical Education) dropped in a lay-up 1:08 into the game.
The Vikings (7-10, 2-4 MCC), who scored the next six points to lead 6-2, gave the hosts fits all evening as the Statesmen only led 39-29 at the break.
Up 50-38 with 13:51 remaining, William Penn came up wanting on both ends, allowing Grand View to narrow the margin to two points at 52-50 only 2:51 later.
The Statesmen still only led by four with 5:48 on the clock, but seven unanswered points put the game well out of reach.
William Penn’s advantages in shooting (45.9%-43.8%) and rebounding (44-33) were nearly neutralized by 15 turnovers that were converted into 15 Viking points. The Statesmen were lukewarm at best from behind the arc (29.4%), but kept going back to the well in tallying ten three-pointers in the win.
Beasley led all players with 22 points on 8-of-12 shooting (3-of-4 3-PT). Keith Steffeck (Sr., Marion, Iowa, Physical Education) was also productive from the field, going 8-of-14 for 18 points. Both players managed double-doubles as Beasley also topped all participants with 12 rebounds, while Steffeck corralled 11 boards.
James Devlin (Sr., Tampa, Fla., Sociology) was the third member in the double-digit club with 11 points. Blake Walker (Jr., Rose Garden, Ga., Physical Education), with seven points, and Kevin Fay (Jr., Hennepin, Ill., Education), with six points, contributed as well.
Walker assisted on seven baskets, while Beasley stole four passes and Steffeck blocked three shots.
Next: William Penn remains in Oskaloosa Saturday to host St. Ambrose in MCC action at 3 p.m.
