HILLSBORO, KAN. – The William Woods University women's basketball team suffered their first loss this season Friday afternoon as they fell 61-63 to Bethany College in their first game of the Tabor College Classic.
 
William Woods had three players score in double digits with Kaycee Gerald leading the way with 16 points. Peyton Greenlee scored 15 points of her own, Tori Nesslage scored 12 points and Ashleigh Frampton followed with 10 points in the contest.
 
WWU will resume tournament action Saturday, November 10^th as they face Tabor College. Tip-off is set for 5 p.m. in Hillsboro, KS.
 
Game Flow
Bethany College was the first to strike a punch in the opening minutes of the game. They quickly got out to an early 10-1 lead over the Owls. William Woods guard Gerald was able to slow down the Terrible Swedes run when she connected on a two pointer and put WWU behind 10-3.
 
With 6-minutes remaining in the first quarter, Greenlee was fouled and sent to the free throw line where she knocked down the second shot and sparked a 5-0 run for the Owls and put them within one of Bethany.
 
After trailing majority of the quarter, WWU finally took the lead when Kasey Hazell laid the ball in with 2-minutes reaming giving William Woods an 11-10 lead going into the second quarter.
 
Down by one, The Terrible Swedes entered the second quarter determined to regain the lead. Kels Mueller, who finished with 20 points, was able to connect on a two point shot attempt a push the Bethany lead to 14-11. The Owls quickly responded with a two point basket of their own coming from Greenlee.
 
After 7-minutes of back and forth scoring, Frampton made a strong post move to the basket and tied the game 21-21.
 
Bethany would soon regain the lead with three pointe shot coming from Halei Wortham that gave them a 21-24 lead.
 
In the final minute of the first half, Greenlee scored a two point bucket in the lane that put WWU behind 23-27. Greenlee scored another bucket in the lane in the final seconds of the half, but it would not be enough to get over the hump and Bethany walked into halftime ahead 25-27.
 
 The Terrible Swedes returned from the locker room on fire with two back-to-back buckets coming from Sena Aktas that put Bethany up 30-27.
 
Owls guard Hazell, responded to the Bethany run with a three pointer that made the score 31-30.
 
William Woods would continue to fight in the third quarter but The Terrible Swedes were too much as they dominated the third period and entered the fourth quarter ahead 45-40.
 
 
In the first 15-seconds of the fourth quarter, Gerald broke out for a layup and put the Owls behind 45-42. Bethany responded to Gerald's layup with a three pointer that came from Mueller and pushed the Terrible Swedes lead to 48-42.
 
With momentum on their side, Bethany College increased their lead to 59-51 with 5:30 remaining in the contest.
 
WWU refused to dissaper with a bucket in the paint coming from Nesslage which sparked a 7-0 run for the Owls and put them behind 59-58.
 
At the 2:20 mark, Nesslage was fouled and sent to the line where she made 1 of 2 free throws and tied the game at 59.
 
After 5 scoreless minutes, the Terribel Swedes finally put a point on the board with a lay-in from Mueller.
 
With 20 seconds remaining in the contest, Gerald made her way to the paint and connected on her shot attempted and tied the game 61-61.
 
William Woods played aggressive defense in the final seconds which resulted in two Mueller free throws that both went in and put the Terrible Swedes ahead 63-61.
 
Gerald was able to get down the court and attempt one final shot for WWU, but it missed the basket and Bethany College went on the win the contest 61-63.
 
By the Numbers
1 – This is the Owls first loss of the season
10 – Ashleigh Frampton scored 10 points for the Owls
12 – Tori Nesslage chipped in 12 points in the contest
15 – Peyton Greenlee finished with 15 points  
16 - Kaycee Gerald led the Owls with 16 points
17 – WWU forced 17 turnovers in the contest