Statesmen Succumb to Ravens in 2025 Debut

Atchison, Kan.--The William Penn women's basketball team dropped the first game of the 2025 calendar year, falling 91-46 to Benedictine in Heart of America Athletic Conference action Thursday.

WPU (2-10, 1-7 Heart) was outshot 41.1%-30.4% and lost the rebounding battle 47-34, but struggled the most in ball control with 30 turnovers (12 for BC).  The turnover disparity led to the Statesmen being outscored 38-4 in points off mistakes.

The navy and gold gave up the first 13 points of the night and never recovered.  The third quarter proved to be the visitors' lone bright spot as they were outscored just 22-21 during that 10-minute stretch.

William Penn was also more efficient at the free-throw line at 11-for-14, but the Ravens (11-2, 9-1 Heart) took the lion's share of the attempts at 19-for-28.

Carley West (Jr., Saint Paul, Minn., Human Services) headlined the Statesmen with 11 points, while Lacy Whitcomb (Sr., Overland Park, Kan., Psychology) was next with nine points.

Tionna Traylor (Jr., Springfield, Ill., Psychology) poured in eight points off the bench, while the duo of Cortlynn Jackson (So., Des Moines, Iowa, Sports Management) and Mykaila Burgher (Jr., Melbourne, Fla., Biology) contributed six points each.  Aiesha Feagins (Sr., Grand Prairie, Texas, Applied Mathematics) was good for an additional five.

Traylor and Whitcomb both corralled six rebounds, while Mariah Baltierra (Sr., Norcross, Ga., Sports Management) dished out five assists.  Jackson, with two steals, and Whitcomb, with two blocks, paced the defensive effort.

Next Up: William Penn returns to Oskaloosa Saturday to host Baker in Heart play at 2 p.m.