FULTON, Mo. – A strong third quarter by the William Woods University Women's Basketball team propelled the Owls to a 72-65 victory over Harris-Stowe State University in American Midwest Conference action on Sunday afternoon. The win for WWU is its sixth win of the season.
 
The Owls had four players score in double-figures led by senior April Gebke, who scored 19 points on 6-of-9 shooting Jasmine Brown followed with 12 points, while Kelsey Scherder and Kaycee Gerald followed with 11 and 10 points, respectfully. Gerald led the Owls with nine rebounds in the contest.
 
WWU returns to action on Tuesday, December 13th when they travel to Hannibal, Missouri to face Hannibal-LaGrange University in AMC action. Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m.
 
Game Flow
Early in the first quarter the Owls raced out to an 8-2 lead over the Hornets that was capped off by a Jasmine Brown jumper with 6:31 left in the first quarter. The Owls grew the lead to eight, 13-5, after a Kelsey Scherder three-pointer, her only three of the contest. After leading by eight, Harris-Stowe started chipping away and took a lead, 17-15, after a Alantis Sutton three. Harris-Stowe led 20-17 with one minute remaining in the quarter and hit a jumper in the paint to grow its lead to 22-17 after the first quarter of action.
 
The Hornets lead grew to ten points, 29-19, over the first two minutes of the second quarter. Down by ten, the Owls scored the next five points on a pair of free throws by Jess Schmidt and a three pointer by Bailey Rollins. The Owls continued to chip away at the lead and after a Schmidt jumper the Owls had the lead, 32-31. Harris-Stowe closed out the half by outscoring the Owls five to three and the Hornets took a 36-35, lead into halftime.
 
The third quarter was the best quarter for the Owls on the afternoon as they outscored the Hornets, 22 to 13. After the Hornets led 38-37, the Owls scored the 10 of the next 11 points taking an eight-point lead, 47-39, after a Gerald three-pointer. The Owls found themselves ahead 51-43, with 3:13 left in the quarter before the Hornets started making a run. Harris-Stowe trimmed the lead down to four points, 51-47, prior to the Owls growing its lead back to 10 points, 57-47, on a Rollins jumper. The Hornets scored the final two points of the quarter, however, the Owls had an eight-point lead, 57-49.
 
A two pointer by Gebke to open but the Owls ahead by double-digits but the Hornets had an answer. Harris-Stowe trimmed the lead down to four, 59-55, after a Brionna Taylor jumper. The lead grew to three, 60-57, after an Asia Green jumper. A minute and a half later, Green hit one of two from the free throw line taking the Owls lead down to two, 60-58. The Owls responded by going on an 8-0 run taking a nine-point lead, 68-59. The run was capped off by a Gebke three-pointer. Harris-Stowe did not come within five points for the remainder of the contest and the Owls came away with a 72-65 victory over Harris-Stowe.
 
By the Numbers
22 – WWU scored 22 points in the third quarter to take the lead, 57-49, Harris-Stowe after trailing at halftime
19 – April Gebke scored a team-high 19 points in the contest
4 – WWU had four players score in double figures
9 – Kaycee Gerald led the Owls with nine rebounds
16 – William Woods had 16 assists in the contest
41.8% - WWU shot 41.8 percent for the game
6 – The Owls made six three-pointers in the game
5 – Bailey Rollins led the team with five assists
28 – WWU scored 28 points in the paint