ST. LOUIS, Mo. – The William Woods University women's basketball team shot 49.1 percent from the field in route to a 72-53 victory over Missouri Baptist University in American Midwest Conference action on Thursday night.
 
Leading the Owls was Hannah Bland, who scored 24 points and collected 15 rebounds. Both of those were team-highs as she collected a double-double. Bland was 10-for-11 shooting in the contest. WWU had three players score in double-figures and nine players score in the contest.
 
The Owls return to action on Saturday, Jan. 27 when they travel to Columbia, Mo. to face No. 11 Columbia College in AMC action. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m.
 
Game Flow
Both offenses got out to a slow start in the first quarter as a layup by Hannah Bland tied the game at 4-4 over three minutes into the game. After the Spartans hit a three, the Owls scored the next nine points taking a 14-7 lead. During the run, Peyton Greenlee scored four points for the Owls. WWU grew its lead to 15-9 before Missouri Baptist battled back. Missouri Baptist trimmed the lead down to three, 17-14, ending the first quarter of play.
 
After trading buckets opening the second quarter, the Owls cranked up the defensive pressure and held the Spartans scoreless for a four-minute stretch. During that time, the Owls grew its lead to nine, 25-16. WWU continued to grow its lead and after four straight points by Hannah Bland, WWU led 32-17, with 2:35 to go before halftime. William Woods could not get another basket to fall in the quarter and Missouri Baptist scored the final six points of the quarter. WWU led 32-23 at halftime.
 
The Owls continued to keep the Spartans off the scoreboard as they held MBU scoreless for the first two and a half minutes of the third quarter. WWU slowly grew its lead to 41-25, after a Bailey Rollins three pointer. WWU continued extend its lead as the Owls went on a 15-4 run taking a 56-29 lead after a free throw by Jasmine Brown. After the run, the Spartans scored the next seven points and WWU led by 20, 56-36, with 52 seconds to go in the quarter. The Owls Sommer Burgard hit two free throws at the end of the quarter and after three, WWU led, 58-36.
 
William Woods continued to expand its lead over the Spartans. Just over two minutes into the fourth quarter, Greenlee hit a three putting the Owls ahead by 24, 63-39. Each time the Spartans tried to cut the lead under 20 points, WWU responded going ahead by 20 or more points. With 4:03 left in the game, Greenlee hit a runner in the paint putting the Owls ahead by 22, 70-48. William Woods did not let the Spartans back into the game as the Owls came away with its sixth straight victory. WWU defeated Missouri Baptist, 72-53.
 
By the Numbers
24 – Hannah Bland scored 24 points in the victory
49.1 – WWU shot 49.1 percent from the floor in the win
15 – Hannah Bland collected 15 rebounds, for a double-double
22 -The Owls committed 22 turnovers in the contest
11 – William Woods collected 11 offensive rebounds
3 – Three Owls scored in double-figures
9 – Nine different Owls scored in the contest
5 – WWU hit five threes in the contest
34 – The Owls scored 34 points in the paint
26.0 – William Woods held the Spartans to 26 percent shooting