HENDERSON, Tenn. – The William Woods University women's basketball team could not overcome a slow start to No. 2 Freed-Hardeman University on Saturday afternoon as the Lady Lions defeated the Owls, 68-57.
 
The Owls trailed by 16 points at halftime and had the lead down to single figures in the fourth quarter but could not come all the way back. Seniors Jasmine Brown and Hannah Bland led the Owls in scoring as Brown had 14 and Bland had 11. WWU shot 33.3 percent from the floor in the game.
 
The Owls return to action on Thursday, December 28th when they host Harris-Stowe State University at Anderson Arena. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m.
 
Game Flow
The Owls offense got off to a slow start in the first quarter as they only connected on three field goals in the quarter. The first field goal came at 9:26 mark when Hannah Bland hit a layup. After the basket by Bland, both teams did not score for the next three minutes of the contest. Freed-Hardeman started heating up and a jumper by Tiffany Pate put the Lady Lions ahead, 10-4. A field goal by Bailey Rollins put the Owls down nine, 15-6, with 2:51left in the quarter. However, the Owls only scored one more point in the quarter and trailed 17-7 after one quarter of play.
 
The Lady Lions stretched the lead to 21-7 after a jumper by Kim Mallory in the second quarter. On the Owls next possession, the Owls Peyton Greenlee hit a three pointer. Greenlee's three was the last points for the Owls for a two-minute span which saw Freed-Hardeman stretched the lead to 25-10. WWU slowly chipped away at the lead and a Kaycee Gerald jumper put the Owls down 11, 28-17. WWU had the lead down to nine, 28-19, after a Sommer Burgard layup. Freed-Hardeman closed out the half on an 8-1 run taking a 36-20 lead into halftime.
 
WWU did not go away as they continued to battle but the Lady Lions continued to add to its lead as Freed-Hardeman's Kim Mallory hit a pair of free throws putting the Lady Lions ahead, 43-25. WWU's offense then started coming to life and an offensive rebound and put back by Greenlee put the Owls down, 46-29. WWU continued chipping away and a jumper by Jasmine Brown put the Owls down 14, 49-35. WWU trailed 49-36 after three quarters of play.
 
The Owls and Lady Lions traded baskets early in the fourth quarter and with 9:08 left in the contest WWU trailed by 13, 53-40. The Lady Lions stretched the lead to 14, 56-42, before the Owls slowly made a run. WWU scored the next five points, three by Bland and two Greenlee, putting the Owls down nine, 56-47, with 6:22 left in the contest. WWU had opportunities to trim the lead down but nine would be as close as they would get. Down by nine, 58-49, Mallory hit a three putting the Lady Lions ahead, 61-49. William woods got the lead down to 10 on multiple times but could not get any close and were defeated by the No. 2 Lady Lions, 68-57.
 
By the Numbers
2 – WWU had two players in double-figures
14 – Jasmine Brown led the Owls with 14 points
20 – WWU shot 20 percent rom the floor in the first half of the contest
2-for-14 – William Woods shot 2-for-14 on three pointers
9 – Brown le the Owls with nine rebounds
11 – The Owls committed 11 turnovers
15-for-19 – WWU was 15-for-19 on free throws
7 – William Woods dished out seven assists
3 – Brown had three blocks for the Owls