FULTON, Mo. – The William Woods University Women's Basketball team won its 2016-17 home opener as they defeated Graceland University, 86-70, on Thursday night at Anderson Arena.
 
The Owls shot 38 percent from the floor in the victory. Eleven Owls scored in the contest, led by April Gebke, who had 19 points. Kelsey Scherder and Kennedy Volkart Followed with 13 points each. Kaycee Gerald had team high 17 rebounds in the contest.
 
WWU returns to action on Thursday, November 17th when they travel to Batesville, Arkansas to face the ninth ranked team in the NAIA Lyon College. This will be the Owls American Midwest Conference opener. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
 
Game Flow
The Owls offense came out clicking as they quickly pulled ahead of the Yellow Jackets, 9-3, after a jumper by Gerald. WWU grew the lead to 11 points, 14-11, after Jasmine Brown hit a jumper in the paint midway through the first quarter. William Woods kept its lead around double-figures for the remainder of the first quarter and after a Gebke three the Owls led by 13 points, 23-10, after the first quarter of action.
 
Within the first two minutes of the second quarter the Owls extended the lead to 14 points, 26-12, after Kennedy Volkart scored in the paint. After another jumper by Volkart in the paint, the Owls found themselves ahead by 16, 30-14. Graceland cut the lead down to 11 points before the Owls scored the next four points growing its lead back to 17 points, 38-21. The Owls continued to hold onto its 17 point lead, which they would take into halftime.
 
The lead continued to grow for the Owls in the third quarter of the game as Gebke hit a pair of free throws stretching the lead to 22 points, 55-33. The Owls continued to hold a 20 or more point edge in the contest throughout the third quarter. Kenda Vaughan hit a three-pointer at the end of the third quarter putting the Owls ahead by 28, 70-42. With just under 10 seconds to go in the quarter, Nina Gavoli hit a layup trimming the lad to 26, 70-44, after three quarters of play.
 
The Owls and Yellow Jackets were matching field goals in the fourth quarter as the Owls held a lead of at least 20 points midway through the quarter. With just over four minutes to go in the contest, Laurnea Jarman hit a pair of three throws putting the Owls ahead 84-54. The Owls only scored two more points the entire contest as Graceland went on a 16-2 run to close out the game. It was not enough as the Owls came away with an 86-70 victory.
 
By the Numbers
19 – April Gebke had 19 points to lead the Owls in the contest
17 – Kaycee Gerald had 17 rebounds in the contest
40 – The Owls scored 40 points in the paint
29 – WWU had 29 bench points in the contest
5 – William Woods hit five three-pointers
7 – Seven Owls had a steal in the contest
39 – William Woods shot 39 percent in the game