FULTON, Mo. – William Woods University women's basketball captured their fourth win and first AMC conference win Thursday night as they defeated Park 75-68. WWU is now 4-2 overall and 1-0 in conference play.
The Owls had four players score in double digits.
Peyton Greenlee led with 22 points,
Kaycee Gerald fell second with 20 points,
Tori Nesslage finished with 11, and
Sommer Burgard scored 10 points and snatched down 9 rebounds in the contest.
WWU returns to action Saturday, Nov. 17
th when they to Columbia, Mo. to take on Stephens. Game time is scheduled for 1 p.m.
Game Flow
Park was the first team to put points on the board. Cautia Wadood had a strong finish in the paint that put the Pirates ahead 7-4. Two free throws from Deja Johnson-Ford would push the Park lead to 9-4.
William Woods responded with a two point basket from Gerald and put the Owls behind 9-6.
After trailing early in the first quarter, the Owls were finally able to take the lead when Burgard knocked down both free throws and put WWU up 12-11.
With the game tied 13-13, the Pirates regained the lead when Destinee Robinson connected for a strong finish in the paint and gave Park a 15-13 advantage.
In the final 15 seconds of the first half, Nesslage was fouled and sent to the line where she knocked down both attempts and put the Owls behind 18-15 going into the second period.
Up by three, the Pirates pushed their lead to five when Kiana Smith connected for a two point basket. Less than a minute after, Sarah Lamp was fouled and sent to the line where she knocked down both shots and gave Park a 21-15 lead.
After two scoreless minutes, William Woods Greenlee finished strong in the paint and put WWU behind 22-15. 15 seconds later,
Ashleigh Frampton connected on her layup and made the Pirates lead 22-19.
Midway through the period, Greenlee hit a huge three for William Woods and put the Owls down 1. The Pirates quickly responded with Lamp lay-in, but WWU would return the favor with Nesslage layup and put William Woods do2n 25-24.
As Park looked to stretch their lead, Gerald was able to come up with a steal and a basket and put the Owls ahead 26-25.
With 3:32 remaing in the half, both teams were tied 30-30. WWU regained the lead with 1:34 reamining when Gerald found her way to the paint for another lay-in.
Robinson would respond for Park by knocking down a three point basket and giving the Pirates a 33-32 lead.
Park would score the final baskets in the half and go into halftime ahead 37-32.
As Park's momentum began to pick up, so did their lead. Krystal Forrester opened the third period with a two point basket in the paint and put their lead a 39-32.
The Owls would score 3-minutes into the period when Gerald connected for another lay-in.
After trailing early in the third, two Gerald free throws gave William Woods a 43-42 lead. They would stretch the lead to 45-42 when Nesslage hit a huge three point basket with 3:50 remaining in the period.
The Pirates would continue fighting but could not regain the lead as they watched WWU take a 53-47 lead going into the final period.
The Owls began the fourth period strong.
Bailey Rollins was the first to score for the WWU with a two point basket that put them ahead 55-47.
Park responded immediately with a two point basket of their own coming from Chantell Greer.
Halfway through the period, Gerald found an open lane once again and knocked down the two point basket and put WWU ahead 68-12.
Trailing big, Park needed a spark to regain any hope of a comeback. They did just that when Lamp was fouled and sent to the line for one shot. Converting the and-one, Lamp put the Pirates behing 68-59.
Park continued looking for a way to get the game back, but could not find one and William Woods would go on to win 75-78.
By the Numbers
4 – The Owls had 4 players score in double digits
9 – Sommer Burgard led the Owls with 9 rebounds
20 – Kaycee Gerald scored 20 points in the contest
22 – Peyton Greenlee led WWU with 22 points
23 – WWU turned the ball over 23 times
44% - William Woods shot 44% from the field on the night 7
