FULTON, Mo. – Behind the hot shooting of Peyton Greenlee, the William Woods University women's basketball team defeated Stephens College, 99-72, on Thursday evening at Anderson Arena. Greenlee led the Owls with 20 points on 9-of-13 shooting. This was the American Midwest Conference opener for both schools.
 
Following Greenlee's 20 points was Kaycee Gerald with 17 points. A trio of Owls, Jasmine Brown, Bailey Rollins and Lexy Ganaway scored 14 points each. Hannah Bland rounded out the double-figure scorers with 10 points. WWU shot 51.4 percent from the floor and hit 12 three-pointers.
 
WWU returns to action on Saturday, November 18th when they travel to Parkville, Missouri to face Park University. Tipoff is set for 1 p.m.
 
Game Flow
The Owls and Stars were locked in a one-point game four minutes into the first quarter, when Peyton Greenlee hit a three-pointer putting the Owls ahead by four, 8-4. After Greenlee's three pointer, the Owls grew the lead to eight points, 16-8, after back-to-back three-pointers by Lexy Ganaway. Stephens cut the lead down to five, but Bailey Rollins had a layup and the end of the quarter putting the Owls ahead, 22-15, after the first quarter of play.
 
Tori Nesslage hit a three-pointer opening the second quarter and growing the Owls lead to 10, 25-15. The Stars and Owls traded buckets and with 7:11 left in the first half, the Stars Chalee Britt had the Owls lead down to six, 28-22. However, the Owls grew the lead back to 13 points after four straight points by Greenlee. WWU continued to stretch the lead in the first half and Ganaway's third three-pointer in the first half put the Owls ahead, 45-30, at halftime.
 
The Owls came out of halftime and hit back-to-back three-pointers taking the lead up to 21, 51-30. The Owls continued to gr wots lead and another three-pointer by Greenlee put the Owls ahead by 26 points, 63-37, with 4:59 left in the third quarter. WWU continued to hold onto a 20-point lead until Makenzie Jemes hit a two point at the end of the quarter and WWU led 71-53 after three quarters of play.
 
The Stars slowly started chipping away at the Owls lead starting the fourth quarter. Stephens went on a 9-1 run taking the Owls lead down to 12 points, 74-62, with 7:35 left in the quarter. That would be as close as the Stars would get as over the next three minutes of the contest, the Owls stretched its lead back to 21 points, 86-65. WWU continued to hold onto the 20 point lead and the Owls came away with a 99-72 victory over the Stars in the its American Midwest Conference opener.
 
By The Numbers
6 – WWU had six players in double figures against the Stars
20 – Peyton Greenlee led the Owls with 20 points
16 – The Owls had 16 offensive rebounds in the contest
22 – William Woods dished out 22 assists in the contest
12 – WWU hit 12 three-pointers against the Stars
4 – Lexy Ganaway came off the bench and hit four three-pointers
30 – The Owls scored 30 points in the paint
12 – Hannah Bland had 12 rebounds, leading the Owls