CONWAY, Ark. – The William Woods University women's basketball team was defeated by Central Baptist College on Friday afternoon, 73-63. The loss drops the Owls to 4-10 on the season.
 
The Owls play at Hannibal-LaGrange University for their final regular season game on Saturday, Feb. 20.  Tip-off is slated for 1 p.m.
 
By The Numbers
27 – Natalie Thomas tied her career-high with 27 points.
18 – Tori Nesslage posted 18 points while shooting 66.67% from the field (6-9 FG) and 83.3% from the foul line (5-6 FT).
9 – Natalie Thomas sunk nine buckets with seven coming from the three-point line. 
6 – Kasey Hazell pulled down a team-high six boards.
 
Game Flow
Natalie Thomas started the game with a three coming off the tip, and the Owls pushed an eight-point lead three minutes in, 10-2. CBC closed the gap to two over the next 2 ½ minutes, but Tori Nesslage and Thomas combined for a 7-0 run to go back up by nine with 3:29 to play, 19-10. CBC then struck an 11-0 run to put them up by two with 22 seconds to play. Thomas hit a three with :05 on the clock to give the Owls a one-point lead heading into the second quarter, 22-21.
 
A free throw from Thomas and a fast break layup from Amaya Keeling gave the Owls a four-point lead to start the second quarter, 25-21. CBC evened the score and took over the lead just over halfway through, but the Owls tied the game at 30-30 with two minutes to play. Hazell scored a bucket down low to give the Owls a two-point lead with 41 seconds on the clock, but CBC hit a three to take the game into halftime with a one-point lead, 33-32.
 
CBC powered a 14-point run to start the second half, grabbing a 15-point lead 4:20 in, 47-32. A three from Kiyanna Rodgers broke the Owls' silence, but CBC went 3-for-4 from the foul line to take back a 15-point lead. The Owls blasted a 12-0 run over a two-minute span to cut the game to three with 1:28 to play, 50-47. The Owls headed into the final quarter with a four-point deficit, 52-48.
 
CBC took up an 11-point lead after 4 ½ minutes of play. A three from Thomas brought the game within eight, but CBC pushed the game back to double digits. Thomas' seventh three-pointer of the game and two free throws from Hazell brought the Owls within eight with 17 seconds to play, but CBC scored the last points of the game to end with a 73-63 Owls' loss.