Box Score CREVE COUER, Mo. - Peyton Dearing's layup with seven seconds left made Terry Nash's 100th game as William Woods University (7-7, 5-3 American Midwest Conference) women's basketball coach a good one, as the Owls earned a thrilling 47-45 victory over rival Missouri Baptist University (4-12, 4-6) Thursday at Carl & Deloris Petty SRC.

"Today was an absolute defensive effort," Nash said after WWU won its first game at MBU since 2020. "To win a game where shots aren't falling, and you score 47 points takes a lot of discipline and effort. Today was my 100th game as head coach, and happy it was a win! This was also Sydney's and Katie's 100th game, and happy they finally got a win at Missouri Baptist. I'm a proud coach."

In their 100th game donning green and white, Sydney Booker recorded 10 points (5-11 field goals), seven rebounds, two assists and two steals, and Katie Keilholz did what she does best, sinking a 3-pointer, the 192nd of her WWU career, fifth most in program history. Keilholz is eight triples away from becoming the fifth Owl to drain 200, which would tie her with Shanna Lonsberry (2002-06) for the fourth most. 

Dearing led The Woods on the night, tallying a team-high 12 points (5-12 field goals and 2-2 free throws) and tying teammate India Atkins for a team-high three assists and game-high three steals.

The Spartans were in control in the first quarter, and the Owls had to answer. After MBU posted the game's first five points, WWU went on a 7-2 run to tie it at seven on two free throws made by Mariah Prince. Following that, the Spartans hit a layup to go up. Then, neither team scored until Booker got a layup to fall with 4:40 left in the first to make it 9-all. However, MBU went on a 6-2 run to end the first quarter with a 15-11 lead.

The Spartans took their largest advantage of the first half at 22-13 when they finished their 7-2 run with 7:38 remaining in the second quarter. William Woods picked up its defensive intensity and allowed just two more points before halftime, with its 7-2 stretch that began with a Keilholz make from deep and ended with a Jersee Wren bucket inside, bringing the Spartans' lead to 24-20 at the break.

Starting the second half in dominating fashion, the Owls notched 13 points without reply. Finishing that outstanding 6:05 run, Dearing scored a fastbreak layup from an Atkins assist off Booker's steal to put WWU ahead 33-24. The two teams exchanged baskets over several possessions before MBU registered the final six points of the third quarter to cut the Owls' lead to 35-32.

Starting the fourth quarter offense, Prince scored three points over two drives, giving The Woods a two-possession advantage, 38-32. MBU responded with a 9-2 run to go in front, 41-40. After a scoreless possession by both teams, Prince converted a free throw to knot it at 41. The Spartans went on top for the final time at 43-41 with 2:21 on the clock. From there, neither team scored for the next 1:24, with Dearing's basket in the paint tying it at 43. A little over 30 seconds later, Atkins made a layup to make it 45-43 Owls; MBU tied it one final time on its ensuing possession. WWU called timeout with :15 left before the Owls completed a few passes around the arc, and then Dearing swished in her layup with two Spartans guarding her to seal their first win at MBU in five years.

William Woods brought down 34 boards (nine offensive) with six second-chance points, scored 19 points off 17 forced turnovers and shot 33.9% (19-56) from the field, 18.8% (3-16) from 3-point range and 75% (6-8) from the free-throw line. Missouri Baptist collected 38 rebounds (10 offensive) with six second-chance points, tallied four points off 11 forced turnovers and made 35.2% (19-54) from the field, 22.7% (5-22) from deep and 100% (2-2) at the charity stripe.

The Owls head back home, hosting first-year AMC member Mission University (10-3, 7-2 AMC) at 1 p.m. Saturday at Anderson Arena in Fulton. In their most recent meeting, the Patriots won a high-scoring 91-86 decision on Dec. 9, 2023, in Springfield.