LAMONI, Iowa – The William Woods University women's basketball team was defeated by Graceland University, 78-75, in the final five seconds of the non-conference contest on Saturday afternoon. Graceland hit three free throws with three seconds left to win the contest.
The Owls had a trio score double figures in the contest, led by sophomore Kaycee Gerald with 23 points. Sommer Burgard and Tori Nesslage followed with 13 and 12 points respectfully. WWU shot 38.8 percent from the floor. WWU forced Graceland into 19 turnovers in the contest.
WWU returns to action on Tuesday, November 14th when they travel to Macomb, Illinois to face Western Illinois University in an exhibition contest. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.
Game Flow
Graceland raced out to a 10-1 lead in the first three minutes of the contest after a three-pointer by Emily Work. After her three, the lead grew to 14-3, before a three by Kaycee Gerald three pointer but the Owls down eight, 14-6. WWU continued to battle back in the first quarter as a jumper by Tori Nesslage put the Owls down two, 16-14. William Woods took its first lead of the contest after a pair of free throws by Gerald, put the Owls ahead, 19-18, which was the score after the first quarter.
The Yellow Jackets and Owls traded baskets opening the second quarter, and WWU found itself down 26-21, before a Bailey Rollins three-pointer put the Owls down two. WWU came back and took the lead by one, 27-26, after a three by Gerald. With the Owls leading 29-28, Graceland answered back with a 9-2 run taking a 37-31 lead over the Owls. WWU got the game back to two, 39-37, with 2:50 left in the half after a Gerald layup. However, the Owls only scored two more points in the quarter and trailed 47-39 at halftime.
William Woods came out of the halftime and did not score for the first three minutes, while the Yellow Jackets grew its lead to 51-39. Once the Owls shots started falling in the third quarter, WWU got the lead down to seven, 53-46, after a Peyton Greenlee three-pointer. The Owls continued to battle with Graceland and a jumper by Gerald put the Owls down one, 55-54, with 3:31 left in the third quarter. Graceland finished the quarter scoring eight of the final 12 points and held a 63-58 lead after three quarters of play.
Graceland grew its lead to seven, 67-60, with 7:32 left in the fourth quarter. After trailing by seven the Owls slowly mounted a comeback and five points by Sommer Burgard tied the game at 69-69 with 4:50 left in the contest. Graceland scored the next four points taking a four-point lead before Gerald hit a three-pointer putting the Owls down one, 73-72, with 1:29 left in the contest. After an Emily Work jumper up three, Peyton Greenlee found Gerald for another three-pointer tying the game at 75-75. However, Graceland's Alexis Matthews-Fells hit three free throws with three second left putting the Owls down three. WWU had one last chance as Bailey Rollins had a three-pointer blocked and the Owls were defeated 78-75.
By the Numbers
7 – The Owls hit seven three-pointers in the contest
4 – Kaycee Gerald led the Owls with four three-pointers made in the contest
23 – Gerald led the Owls with 23 points scored
13 – Sommer Burgard came off the bench and scored 13 points
8 – WWU had eight steals against Graceland
38.8 – The Owls shot 38.8 percent from the floor
25 – William Woods bench scored 25 points; 13 by Burgard and 12 by Tori Nesslage
