FULTON, Mo. -- The William Woods University women's basketball team embarks on its final home stand of the 2011-12 season, hosting Stephens College on Thursday night at Anderson Arena. The game is part of Courtwarming week at WWU and is set for a 5:30 p.m. tipoff. Following the AMC action, fans can stick around for the WWU Faculty/Staff game that continues the Courtwarming festivities in advance of Saturday afternoon's Senior Day doubleheader.
Earlier This Season
In the first meeting between the teams on the 2011-12 slate,
Katie Scherder led a balanced WWU attack with 13 points as the Owls grabbed a 65-46 win.
Sharron Andrews was a perfect 3-of-3 from the floor and added three free throws for nine points in the victory for WWU.
Setting The Scenarios
In what has been a wild and crazy league schedule, the only thing that is assured as teams prepare for the AMC Postseason tournament is that the road to the and the AMC's guaranteed berth in the NAIA National Tournament will require a visit to Columbia College. The Cougars have locked up at least a share of the AMC regular-season championship and can fall no lower than the #2 seed - indeed, they can nab the top seed and the title with a win tonight.
At the bottom end of the table, Missouri Baptist and Stephens College will be on the road throughout their runs through the tournament, but seeds 2-6 will not be determined until the final whistle blows on the weekend. Depending on the results around the league, William Woods can still climb as high as the #1 seed or fall as far as the #6 seed in the tournament.
Quick Look - William Woods
Currently second in the AMC, William Woods is still within reach of a share of the regular-season league title, although the Owls need some help from Hannibal-LaGrange and Harris-Stowe. The Owls are led offensively by
Sharron Andrews, who has averaged 12.8 pts/gm on the year for WWU.
Megan Aubuchon and
Ashlee Taylor have chipped in 9.7 and 8.8 pts/gm respectively on the season. Looking at league games only finds Taylor averaging double digits with 10.2 pts/gm on the year. And although Aubuchon is the team's leading rebounder through all games on the year with 7.0 per contest, Andrews has posted a solid 6.3 reb/gm mark in league play to claim top honors on the limited slate.
As a team, the Owls hold a number of spots in the national rankings, highlighted by the team's defensive performance. WWU holds its opponents to 57 pts/gm on .362 shooting, good for 18th and 20th in the nation respectively. The Owls are ranked across the board in rebounding, led by the Owls defensive rebounding average of 27.7 (18th) and total rebounding margin of 4.4 per game (20th). William Woods ranks 35th in rebounding defense, allowing 36.3 per game, and 36th in rebounding per game with 40.7.
The Owls are also ranked in the top 40 in blocks, with 83 total blocks good for 33rd in the nation and the per game pace of 3.1 good for 35th. Individually, Andrews ranks among the top steal artists in the country, with her pace of 2.48 per game good for 30th among all NAIA Division I players and her overall total of 67 good for 34th.
Quick Look - Stephens
Stephens has struggled to a 2-24 record on the 2011-12 campaign and a 1-11 mark in AMC action. The Stars are led offensively by Jessica McConnell and Megan Sheffield. In league play, McConnell has posted a team-best 9.6 pts/gm average, with Sheffield contributing 8.2 pts/gm and leading the team with 9.2 rebounds per game. McConnell's average falls to 9.0 pts/gm, with Sheffield posting a 9.6 pts/gm mark.
Milestone Watch
Having picked up his 50th AMC win at Williams Baptist College, head coach
Dan Chapla became just the second coach to hit that plateau for WWU - Melissa Brooks is the other - and is within reach of his milestone 100th win for the Owls. He is all but guaranteed of reaching the mark in the fastest pace of any coach at WWU, as Roger Ternes hit the mark in his 159th game at the helm and Brooks needed 195 games to hit the plateau. Chapla sits just two games shy of the mark, with at least three games left on the 2011-12 slate.
Central Dairy Joins Owls Family
Director of Athletics
Jason Vittone announced last week that Central Dairy has agreed to become a Corporate Partner of Owls Athletics. This agreement is the first of its kind for WWU and marks a new era in the growth of the program.
