The William Woods University women's basketball team was topped in the final quarter by Stephens College Thursday evening in Fulton in a gritty, physical matchup. The 70-65 loss resulted from the high foul volume of fouls, especially in the fourth quarter. The Owls' unfortunate loss drops them to 5-16 on the season with a 3-11 conference mark.
How it happened
Stephens forced three turnovers in a minute with its pressured play to help them to an 8-0 run to take a five-point lead, 10-5. A 3 from Madison Adolphsen broke the run, and two good free throws from Natalie Thomas evened the score at 10, all with 2:51 on the clock. Sydney Booker scored the final points of the quarter to send the Owls into the second trailing by three, 15-12.
The Owls blasted a 13-0 run spanning 3:30 to take a six-point lead with 2:24 on the clock. Within the run, they took the lead on Mariah Prince's double bonus free throws and a jumper just in front of the 3-point line from Jersee Wren, followed by a 3 from Katie Keilholz, finishing the run, 30-24. The Owls went into halftime with a four-point lead, 30-26.
Stephens quickly evened the score to start the second half and took hold of the lead four minutes in. A 6-0 run with points from Thomas and Booker flipped the lead and put the Owls up by four with four minutes to go, 43-39. The team held on to the lead to close the quarter, 48-47.
An early 8-0 Owls' run gave the team a seven-point lead with six minutes to go in the game, 56-49. Stephens outscored the Owls 21-8 in the final six minutes, with 17 coming from the foul line (20 overall attempts), leading their way to a win.
By the numbers
53 - Through 40 minutes, there were 53 total fouls called with four foul outs. Between the two teams.
49.0 - The Owls shot 49% from the field (25-51 FG).
29 - The Owls were called for 29 fouls, with almost half coming in the fourth quarter alone.
24 - Stephens was sent to the line 24 times in the fourth quarter.
21 - Booker led the Owls with 21 points (10-15 FG).
14 - Thomas added 14 points to the board (5-11 FG, 4-4 FT).
12 - Keilholz hit four 3-pointers for 12 points.
8 - Thomas pulled down a team-high eight rebounds.
5 - Wren dished in five assists.
Up next
The Owls host Central Baptist College Saturday for their second-to-last home game of the 2022-23 season. Tip-off is slated for 1 p.m.