WPU Cold in Road Loss at Baker

Baldwin City--The William Penn women's basketball team suffered a frigid shooting performance Wednesday as it fell 59-42 to Baker in Heart of America Athletic Conference action.

WPU (9-18, 6-15 Heart) was outshot 43.1%-30.2% by the Wildcats (13-13, 9-12 Heart), including a 33.3%-15.0% deficit from behind the arc. The visitors were also outrebounded 39-33.

Points were hard to come by for the navy and gold in the early going as the home team was able to get out to an 10-0 lead before Journie Augmon (Sr., Las Vegas, Nev., Human Services) broke the dry spell for the Statesmen. Ally Stewart (Sr., Victoria, Australia, Physical Education) followed with a three-pointer as William Penn trailed 12-5 after the first quarter.

Behind a great individual performance by Augmon, the Statesmen improved their play in the second period. The senior scored 10 of the team's 11 points, but the navy and gold were outscored 14-11 in the quarter and trailed 26-16 at the break.

Both crews then turned up the offensive intensity after halftime, matching each other step for step to the tune of an even 13-13 score for the third quarter. Morgan Terry (Sr., Cornersville, Tenn., Biology) opened the scoring for the Statesmen with back-to-back baskets, while Alyssa Hames (Jr., Ackley, Iowa, Psychology) followed her with a three-pointer.

Unfortunately, the Statesmen could not make up any ground and still faced a 10-point deficit entering the final stanza. WPU needed a huge late-game performance, but the Wildcats refused to accommodate and instead kept the navy and gold at arm's length to secure the victory.

One of the lone bright spots for William Penn came in the turnover battle as it committed just 11, compared to 18 for BU, which led to a 17-10 edge in points off mistakes.

Augmon topped the navy and gold with 18 points and seven rebounds, while Terry was next with 10 points. Stewart also tallied eight points.

Emma Morts (Sr., Milford, Ill., Business Management) had a team high in rebounds with nine.

The Statesmen earned just two trips to the line (1-for-2), while BU was 10-for-13 at the stripe.

Next Up: William Penn, which unfortunately will not qualify for the Heart Tournament, will wrap up its season Saturday as it travels to Fayette, Mo. to take on Central Methodist in Heart play at 2 p.m.