WPU Upended in Home Opener
Oskaloosa–A dash of home cooking was not enough to get the Statesmen women’s basketball team into the win column as it fell 69-45 to Columbia in non-conference action Tuesday.
Facing its fourth program that is either currently ranked or receiving national votes, William Penn (0-7), which was playing inside Penn Gymnasium for the first time this season, was outshot 48.3%-29.8%, but gave the Cougars (5-2) a fight by forcing 18 turnovers.
Amanee Clark (So., Waterloo, Iowa, Human Services) scored the first points of the night with a three-pointer, but unfortunately CC answered with seven straight points and did not trail again.
Down 20-12 after the first quarter, the Statesmen stayed within striking distance through the next handful of minutes, getting as close as seven at 25-18 on a trifecta from Alexis True (Jr., Frankfort, Ky., Exercise Science). Again though, the visitors responded, eventually going up 42-23 at intermission.
The navy and gold enjoyed their best stanza in the third, outscoring Columbia 12-11, headlined by a pair of long balls by Ally Stewart (Jr., Victoria, Australia, Physical Education). She finished 4-for-7 from the perimeter as part of her team-high 14 points.
Although the final result was inevitable, William Penn continued to fight down the stretch, forcing three turnovers in under two minutes. The hosts took advantage of CC’s mistakes, leading to a 16-14 margin in points off turnovers.
Unfortunately, the Statesmen could not overcome struggles on the glass, being outrebounded 52-21 (15-3 offensively), which gave the Cougars a 20-4 advantage in second-chance points.
Zantasia White (Jr., Lubbock, Texas, Secondary Education) followed Stewart’s 14 points with nine, while Journie Augmon (Jr., Las Vegas, Nev., Human Services) led the non-starters with eight points in addition to four rebounds, three assists, two steals, and one block.
True was good for seven points (also had three assists) and Clark managed five as well. True and Emma Morts (Jr., Milford, Ill., Business Management) matched White with two thefts in the setback.
In a game that featured just 22 total fouls, the squads combined for only 13 free throws (WPU was 3-for-4).
Next Up: William Penn remains in Oskaloosa Friday, hosting Peru State in its Heart of America Athletic Conference opener at 6 p.m.
