FULTON, Mo. – The William Woods University Women's Basketball Team found themselves down 11 points late in the third quarter before mounting a comeback and defeating No. 7 Columbia College Cougars, 64-59, on Senior Day at Anderson Arena.
 
"I'm very proud of our team," said Head Coach Dan Chapla after the game. "I have been challenging them all year to beat a ranked team and they came thru today. A game our seniors will, no doubt, always remember."
 
Game Flow
In a highly contested first quarter neither team could pull away from each other. With Columbia ahead, 6-4, April Gebke tied the game with a jumper in the paint. The game didn't stay tied for long as the next trip down the court Corri Hamilton hit a three pointer putting the Cougars ahead 9-6, with 4:40 left in the first quarter. Both teams shooting started cooling off and the teams went two minutes without scoring. After the first quarter of action, Columbia led 14-11.
 
Both teams started trading leads in the second quarter, as were six lead changes in the first four minutes of the quarter. With Columbia ahead, 20-19, Kennedy Volkart gave WWU a one point lead, 21-20. After trading baskets and the game tied at 25-25 with 3:34 left in the quarter, the Owls held Columbia to two points the rest of the have and scored five taking a 30-27 lead into halftime.
 
Columbia's offense started to come to life in starting the third quarter of action. Over the first five and a half minutes of the half, the Cougars went on a 10-3 run taking a four point lead over the Owls. The Owls kept it close and with 4:09 left in the quarter, Gebke put WWU down one, 39-38. The Cougars responded with an 11-1 run taking a 50-39 lead with 1:45 left in the quarter. William Woods answered right back as scored the last seven points of the quarter to trail, 50-46, after three quarters of action.
 
The fourth quarter belonged to the Owls as they only allowed the Cougars to score nine points in the quarter. With Columbia ahead, 50-48, Kelsey Scherder hit a three pointer putting the Owls ahead by one, 51-50. The Cougars built a lead of three points, 57-54, with 4:18 left in the contest. At this point the Owls defense picked it up and held the Cougars to two points the rest of the contest and scored 10 points. Kendra Vernatti started the scoring for the Owls with a runner in the paint.
 
The Cougars scored its last points with 1:42 left in the game win Martha Imoniana hit a jumper in the paint putting the Cougars ahead 59-56. William Woods regained the lead after hitting a pair of free throws on the next two possessions taking a 60-59 lead. WWU did not allow the Cougars to score again and hit four-of-six free throws down the stretch to win the contest, 64-59.   
 
By the Numbers
11- The Owls trailed by 11 points in the second half before coming back to win
18 – William Woods scored 18 points in the fourth quarter, outscoring Columbia, 18-9
33% - The Owls held the Cougars to 33 percent shooting from the floor
4 – WWU had four players score in double figures on the game.
13 – Bailey Rollins and April Gebke scored 13 points apiece in the win for the Owls
14-for-17 – The Owls were 14-of-17 from the free throw line
 
Upcoming
The Owls return to action next Thursday, March 3 when they host Harris-Stowe State University at 7 p.m. at Anderson Arena in the AMC Quarterfinals.