Natalie Thomas led the way for the William Woods University women's basketball team, posting a career-high 32 points in the Owls' 80-70 loss at Hannibal-LaGrange Saturday afternoon in Hannibal.
How it happened
After a slow beginning for the Owls, where HLG took a 9-0 lead, Katie Keilholz hit back-to-back 3s to cut the game to three. Minutes later, she hit her third 3-pointer of the game to bring the Owls within two, 11-9. However, the Owls stayed one step behind, and two good free throws from Thomas sent the Owls into the second quarter trailing by two, 19-17.
The Owls struck a 9-0 run late in the second quarter to cut the game to one after HLG pushed out a 10-point lead, 35-34. HLG hit a 3 to end the half, 38-34.
Four points from Thomas kicked off the second half, evening the score at 38, all less than a minute in. HLG jumped back in the lead and, with three minutes to go, pushed their lead back to 10, 53-43. A layup from Sydney Booker just before the buzzer brought the Owls within eight heading into the final quarter, 58-50.
Two free throws from Thomas and a layup from Booker halfway through the final quarter cut the game to three, but HLG responded with a 10-0 run to push out a double-digit lead with 26 seconds to play.
By the numbers
88.2 - The Owls shot 88.2% from the foul line (15-17).
50 - Thomas and Booker combined for 50 of the Owls' 70 points.
32 - Thomas posted a career-high 32 points as she went a perfect 11-11 from the foul line and 9-24 from the field.
18 - Booker added 18 points to the board (8-15 FG).
9 - Keilholz hit three 3-pointers in the first five minutes of the game for nine points.
6 - Keilholz and Mariah Prince each pulled down a team-high six rebounds.
Up next
The Owls host Stephens College with a 5:30 p.m. tip-off Thursday.