Statesmen Drop Heartbreaker to Mustangs

Cedar Rapids-- The William Penn women's basketball team could not get a last-second game-winner to fall as it came up short in a 56-53 conference loss to Mount Mercy Saturday.

The Statesmen (3-8, 1-3) had an opportunity to secure a victory at the end of the contest, despite being outshot 38.9%-30.4% by the Mustangs (5-4, 2-1).

After giving up the first basket to the Mustangs, Kayla Jones (Sr., Louisville, Ky., Psychology) hit a three-pointer to give the Statesmen its first lead of the day at 3-2. The rest of the first quarter remained close as WPU led 16-13 going into the second.

The second quarter had both squads battling and the Mustangs work to a 25-24 score before Meghanne Freehill (Jr., Lewiston, Ill., Sports Management) made a three-point shot and spurred the Statesmen to a run that ended the half 31-24.

The start of the third quarter kept the momentum with William Penn when Taylor Lawhorne (Sr., Amityville, N.Y., Business Management) hit a jumper. Mount Mercy came roaring back to tie the game at 33-33 just three minutes into the half. The teams fought back and forth until the end of the quarter, when William Penn held a slight 44-42 advantage.

Mount Mercy opened scoring in the forth quarter to tie the contest. The squads kept close as Mount Mercy took a 56-53 lead with 56-seconds left to play. The Statesmen could not produce an answer, including missing a three in the final seconds.

The Statesmen held a 41-37 edge in rebounding but trailed 12-4 in second-chance points.  

Turnovers were a problem for both teams as they each had 19. The Statesmen did hold an 18-16 advantage in points turnovers.

Meghanne Freehill led her team with with 16 points off the bench. Dekota Smith (Jr., Toledo, Ohio, Computer Science) and Kayla Peoples (Sr., Waco, Texas, Secondary Education) were behind her with 10 points, Jones ended with nine and Lawhorne finished with seven.

Dekota Smith paced the Statesmen with seven boards. Neva'eh Diaz-Doolin (Fr., Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Biology) followed with six, while Lawhorn and Amaria Turner (Sr., Des Moines, Iowa, Human Services/Psychology/Sociology) each had five.

Lawhorne, Smith, and Freehil all dished out two assists in the loss as well.

"Heartbreaking outcome for us tonight.  We were one of two plays away from a big road win."" Head Coach Sheawn Bedford Jr. said. "I'm proud of this group regardless of the final score."

Next Up: William Penn returns home Saturday to host Missouri Valley in conference play at 2 p.m.