WPU Fails to Close Out Ravens in Road Meeting

Atchison, Kan.–The Statesmen women’s basketball team was on the verge of a big win before the holiday break, but could not put the finishing touches on it in a 69-66 Heart of America Athletic Conference loss to Benedictine Saturday.

William Penn (3-10, 2-7 Heart) was outshot 42.2%-37.5% and outrebounded 45-34, but knocked down nine three-pointers, compared to just five for the Ravens (8-4, 6-3 Heart).

The visitors permitted BC to score the first six points before the navy and gold caught fire with a 13-2 run. Up 16-10, WPU unfortunately could not keep up the pace in a first quarter full of runs as the home squad scored nine in a row for a 19-16 lead after 10 minutes on the hardwood.

William Penn was its strongest in the middle portion of the contest, including Taylor Lawhorne (So., Amityville, N.Y., Business Management) putting her team back on top at 23-21 on a three-point play. The Statesmen continued to perform at a high rate, entering the locker room with a 33-29 edge.

The lead went back and forth in the third stanza, but back-to-back trifectas by Aliyah Myers (Sr., Wichita, Kan., Business Management) and Faith Putz (Jr., Urbandale, Iowa, Business Management) returned the edge to WPU at 49-46. Putz, who scored a game-high 22 points, added a couple baskets and two free throws as the advantage grew to nine early in the fourth.

Ally Stewart (Sr., Victoria, Australia, Sports Management) flushed another three-pointer a bit later and the William Penn lead grew to a game-high 10 points at 58-48 with 8:05 left in regulation.

Unfortunately, everything unraveled from there. A final long ball by Putz extended the margin back to six at 63-57 with 4:33 to go, but Benedictine was too much down the stretch and rallied for the victory.

Putz was 7-for-14 from the field, including 5-for-9 from beyond the perimeter. Stewart connected on three three-pointers of her own for 17 points (two steals as well), while Myers managed 10 in addition to five assists.

Alyssa Hames (Jr., Ackley, Iowa, Psychology) narrowly missed a double-double with eight points and 11 rebounds, while Lawhorne topped the bench with five points.

Both teams were solid at the free-throw line with WPU going 9-for-12 and BC finishing 10-for-14. The visiting crew lost despite committing one fewer turnover, 12-13.

“I am really proud of our effort today,” Assistant Coach Sheawn Bedford said. “I thought we were focused and determined all game. We talked about putting ourselves in position to have a chance in the fourth quarter, and we did just that. Unfortunately, we made too many mistakes defensively late that ended up costing us the game. We will learn from this and keep working.”

Next Up: William Penn returns to action on Saturday, January 6 as it hosts Peru State in Heart play at 2 p.m.