WALNUT RIDGE, Ark. – The William Woods University women's basketball team shot 47.4 percent from the floor in a 71-55 victory at Williams Baptist College on Thursday evening. The win for the Owls is its sixth of the season and improved WWU to 4-1 in American Midwest Conference action.
 
Hannah Bland led the Owls (6-4, 4-1 AMC) with 20 points on 8-of-13 shooting. Peyton Greenlee followed with 15 points and 10 rebounds, for her first double-double of the season. Jasmine Brown rounded out the double-figure scorers with 10 points. WWU shot 47.4 percent from the floor.
 
The Owls return to action on Saturday, December 16th when they travel to Henderson, Tennessee to face No. 2 Freed-Hardeman University. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m.
 
Game Flow
Opening the contest, the Owls and Lady Eagles were tied at 2-2 before Bailey Rollins hit a three-pointer putting WWU ahead, 5-2. Williams Baptist would get within one, 5-4, before the Owls scored the next eight points taking a 13-4 lead with 4:31 left in the quarter. Williams Baptist's Tia Brazell made one free throw trimming the Owls lead to five, 15-10, before Tori Nessledge hit a three-pointer putting the Owls ahead by eight, 18-10. Williams Baptist made the last field goal of the quarter and WWU led 18-12 after one quarter of play.
 
William Woods grew the lead back to eight, 20-12, opening the second quarter when Peyton Greenlee hit a jumper in the paint. The Lady Eagles did not go away and continued to chip at the Owls lead and had the lead down to five, 21-16, after Ashlyn Ellis field goal. Five points would be as close before the Owls grew its lead. A Rollins free throw extended the lead to nine, 30-21, with 3:17 left in the quarter. WWU held onto a nine-point lead until Rollins completed an old fashion three-point play putting the Owls ahead, 35-25, which would be the score they took into halftime.
 
After trading baskets opening the third quarter, the Owls slowly started pulling away. With the Owls ahead, 39-27, WWU went on a 7-2 run taking a 46-29 lead after a three-point play by Hannah Bland. William Woods grew the lead to 52-33 after a Lexy Ganaway three-pointer. WWU grew the lead to 22, 55-33, after a three by Greenlee. Williams Baptist scored the final five points of the quarter and the Owls led 55-38 after three quarters of play.
 
WWU came out and allowed the Eagles to hit two three-pointers in the first two minutes of the fourth quarter cutting the Owls lead down to 13, 57-44. After allowing the lead to get down to 13 points, the Owls grew the lead to 19 points, 65-46, with 3:52 left in the contest. Greenlee grew the lead to 21, 69-48, after hitting a jumper. The Owls did not let the Lady Eagles back in the contest and the Owls came away with a 71-55 victory.
 
By the Numbers
20 – Hannah Bland scored a season-high 20 points leading the Owls
15 – Peyton Greenlee followed with 15 points
10 – Greenlee led the Owls with 10 rebounds posting her first double-double of the season
15 – The Owls dished out 15 assists in the contest
8 – William Woods recorded eight steals in the victory
47.4 – WWU shot 47.4 percent from the floor
6 – The Owls hit six three pointers; three by Greenlee