FULTON, Mo. – The William Woods University women's basketball team was defeated by NAIA No. 1 Freed-Hardeman University, 59-55, on Senior Day on Saturday Afternoon at Anderson Arena. The Owls and Lady Lions were tied at 53-53 with two minutes to go but could only score two more points for the remainder of the contest.
 
Peyton Greenlee led the Owls with 12 points. Jasmine Brown and Kaycee Gerald followed with 11 and Kelsey Scherder rounded out the double figure scorers with 10 points. Gerald collected 10 rebounds to lead the team and earned a double-double.
 
William Woods returns to action on Thursday, February 23rd when they travel to Columbia, Missouri to face Stephens College. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.
 
Game Flow
Freed-Hardeman came out scoring the first seven points of the contest led by Taleeah Cross, who scored five points. WWU first field goal of the came four and a half minutes in when Kaycee Gerald hit a jumper. WWU battled and a jumper by Jasmine Brown, the Owls trailed by four, 11-7. Freed-Hardeman closed out the quarter by extending its lead to 18-9.
 
William Woods came out and opened the second quarter on a 9-2 run that was capped by a Peyton Greenlee three-pointer. After the three by Greenlee, the Owls found themselves down 20-18, with 6:35 to go in the first half. Freed-Hardeman grew the lead back out to eight points, 28-20, after a three by Gabrielle Nicholson. WWU held the Lady Lions scoreless the final 2:29 of the half and the Owls scored the last five points finding themselves down 28-25 at halftime.
 
The Owls came out and scored four of the first five points, tying the contest at 29-29 after a pair of Brown free-throws. The Owls and Lady Lions continued to trade baskets and with 3:52 left in the quarter, the Owls and Lady Lions were tied at 35-35. The teams continued to trade leads and after a Gerald two-pointer, the Owls led by 43-40. Freed-Hardeman hit a three-pointer tying the game at 43-43 after three quarters of play.
 
William Woods came out and grew the lead to three-points, 48-45, after a Scherder three with 7:35 left in the game. Greenlee followed with a two pointer and the Owls grew its lead to five points, 50-45. Freed-Hardeman came back scoring the next eight points, taking a 53-50 lead over the Owls with 2:55 left in the game. After failing down by three, WWU came back and tied the game at 53-53 but the Owls could not regain the lead and would fall to No. 1 Freed-Hardeman, 59-55.
 
By the Numbers
4 – WWU had four players score in double-figures
34.8 – The Owls shot 34.8 percent from the floor in the contest
9 – William Woods dished out nine assists in the contest
5 – WWU hit five three-pointers
12 – Peyton Greenlee led the Owls with 12 points
11 – Jasmine Brown and Kaycee Gerald scored 11 points each
10 – Gerald collected 10 rebounds to lead the Owls
9 – William Woods forced Freed-Hardeman into nine turnovers in the contest