FULTON, Mo.—The (RV) William Woods University women's basketball team snapped its four-game skid on Thursday night, as the Owls defeated St. Louis College of Pharmacy, 72-31, inside Anderson Arena.
The Owls (9-5; 5-4 AMC), shot 39.2 percent from the floor, while 12 different players totaled at least two points in the outing. Leading the way on the night was junior guard
Kendra Vernatti, as the Spokane, Missouri, native, tied her career-high with 11 points on 4-of-9 shooting.
Paige Stewart got her first start on the year and she made it count, totaling 10 points on 4-of-7 shooting from the floor. Freshman
Nikki Callahan added nine points and eight rebounds, while
Veronica Jones totaled eight.
Junior forward
Nia Lateju contributed seven points and a game-high nine boards, while
Julia Wells also added seven points off the bench.
Grace Wade and
Dennisha Rice had five points, while
Lindsey Cornelius and
Karinne Lane totaled three points. Lane also set a career-high for herself on the night, dishing out a game-high seven assists.
Blake French and
Kennedy Volkart, rounded out the score sheet, as the duo totaled two points each.
The Eutectics (0-9; 0-8 AMC), were limited to 20.0 percent shooting from the floor and 25.0 percent from downtown. Emi Santhuff paced the offense on the evening, scoring a game-high 15 points on 5-of-14 shooting. Jaime Everett and Paige Forshee totaled six each, while Jordyn Norde contributed four.
It was all William Woods in the first half, as the team shot 43.2 percent from the floor, while defensively they held the Eutectics to just a 14.8 field goal percentage.
Through the first 12:00 minutes of play, everything was clicking on both ends of the floor for the Owls, as they jumped out to a commanding 21-0 lead at the 8:18 mark, capped off by Stewart's bucket in the paint off a STLCOP turnover.
The Eutectics would get on the scoreboard on its next possession, as Santhuff scored a two-pointer in the paint, making it a 19-point game at the 7:55 mark.
The Owls would continue to add onto its advantage, as they closed out the first half on a 19-6 run and headed to the locker room up 40-8. The eight points scored is the lowest WWU has held its opponents to in a half this year, while it was also the Eutectics lowest point total through 20:00 minutes of play thus far on the season.
In the second half, the Owls continued to move the ball well offensively, while defensively they continued to force the Eutectics into unwanted shots.
At the 15:24 mark, WWU pushed its lead out to 37 points (50-13), after Lateju earned the old-fashioned three-point play. STLCOP continued to battle as the clock continued to wind down, but the Owls were able to still hold a significant lead, including taking a 41-point lead at the 3:38 mark, after Callahan trained a three-pointer.
WWU was able to finish the Eutectics off from there and go on for the 41-point victory, making it now three times this season in conference play, the Owls have won by at least 40 points.
With the victory, the Owls move back up above the .500 mark in American Midwest Conference (AMC) play and they will look to tally another win on the road on Saturday, as they pay a visit to Park University. Tipoff will start at 2:00 p.m.
Fans make sure to stay updated on wwuowls.com tomorrow afternoon for a full preview of Saturday's action.
