Junior forward Makenzie Fessler produced a team-high 19 points as the William Woods Owls held off the Missouri Baptist Spartans in a 75-71 American Midwest Conference victory Saturday at Anderson Arena.
William Woods - which avenged a 59-56 loss Jan. 4 at Missouri Baptist - improved to 13-13 overall and 9-10 in the AMC. The Owls have won four of their last five.
William Woods was in front 30-26 at halftime Saturday and led by 10 points on three different occasions in the second half.
The Spartans rallied to pull within 71-69 with 44 seconds to play, but Fessler buried a 3-pointer with :17 left to seal the win for the Owls.
Fessler was 8-of-12 from the field - hitting both of his 3-point attempts - to direct three players in double figures for William Woods. Freshman center Darius Yohe followed with 18 points and freshman guard Tyriel Nelson added 11 as the Owls shot 44 percent (27-of-62) as a team.
Yohe rounded out an impressive double-double by grabbing a game-high 16 rebounds to power William Woods to a 38-37 edge on the boards.
John Yaeger connected on 10-of-12 shots in countering with a game-high 23 points for Missouri Baptist (13-11, 9-9). James McKelvin supplied 22 points as the Spartans shot 42 percent (26-of-62) from the field.
The Owls host Park in an AMC contest at 7:30 p.m. today at Anderson Arena. William Woods lost 76-70 on Jan. 7 at Park.