Freshman guard Natalie Thomas responded with a game-high 21 points as the No. 8 seed Lady Owls downed the No. 9 Lady Trojans in the opening round of the American Midwest Conference championship Monday night at Anderson Arena.
William Woods University (5-11) - which was coming off a 59-54 loss at Hannibal-LaGrange University in Saturday's regular-season finale - outscored the Lady Trojans 36-24 in the first half Monday night to advance.
The Lady Owls will now travel to top-seeded and 21st-ranked Lyon (Ark.) College (10-1) for a quarterfinal game at 7 tonight. William Woods lost at Lyon 56-47 on Jan. 16.
The Lady Owls led Hannibal-LaGrange 18-15 after one quarter Monday night and outscored the Lady Trojans 18-9 in the second quarter to establish their double-digit lead at the break. William Woods edged Hannibal-LaGrange 19-17 in the third quarter and took a 55-41 advantage into the fourth quarter.
Thomas finished 7-of-15 from the field - including 4-of-8 from 3-point range - to direct four players in double figures for the Lady Owls, who shot 48% (25-of-52) overall. Senior guard Tori Nesslage was next with 12 points, junior forward Kasey Hazell had 11 and junior guard Jheda Kennedy added 10.
Junior guard Amaya Keeling pulled down a team-high seven rebounds for William Woods, which was edged on the boards 35-33.
Sophie Schooley countered with 19 points to lead the Lady Trojans (4-19), who shot just 33% (18-of-55) from the field. Madisen Simpson contributed 12 points.