Fulton, Mo. – The women's basketball team dropped a home conference matchup Saturday afternoon, falling to Clarke University 81-58 in Anderson Arena.
Clarke (9-9, 5-5 Heart) set the tone early, jumping out in front and controlling the tempo on both ends of the floor. William Woods (2-14, 2-9 Heart) worked to find a rhythm offensively but struggled to get consistent looks as Clarke's defense would stand tall against the Owls' scoring attack. With that, Clarke carried a 36-24 advantage into the break after outscoring the Owls in each of the first two quarters.
Coming out of halftime, Woods looked to respond, but Clarke continued to apply pressure and extend its lead behind efficient scoring and steady play. The Owls showed flashes late in the game, cutting into the margin with improved ball movement and energy, but Clarke answered each push to keep control of the rest of the way. The Pride outscored Woods 45-34 in the second half to secure the 81-58 win.
Mya Pflasterer led the scoring charge for the Owls with 16 points and 8 rebounds for the Owls.
Megan Hughes and
Abby Alivernia each recorded 10 points, while
Mariah Prince pulled down 12 rebounds off the glass.
The Owls will head to Marshall, Mo to take on the Missouri Valley Vikings on Wednesday for a 5:30 tip.
