Statesmen Fall to Bethel (Kan.) in Opening Game of Kansas Wesleyan Coyote Classic

Salina, Kan.--The Statesmen women's basketball team dropped a 78-59 decision against Bethel (Kan.) in its first competition of the Kansas Wesleyan Coyote Classic Friday.

In a game where it had 23 turnovers, WPU (1-1) struggled from the opening tip, allowing the Threshers (1-0) to gain a 7-0 lead to start the first period. The teams were closely matched for the rest of the quarter and saw multiple small runs, and when the period ended, the Statesmen trailed just 21-13.

The second quarter saw William Penn surrender the ball 11 times and allow Bethel nine second-chance points. Throughout the period, the Threshers kept extending their lead, eventually claiming a 51-21 edgewith 1:32 left in the half. Kayla Peoples (Sr., Waco, Texas, Secondary Education) hit a three-pointer with 32 seconds left in the second, pulling the score to 51-24 to end the half.

Peoples ended the day with 12 points on 3-for-7 shooting, tying Amaria Turner (Sr., Des Moines, Iowa, Human Services and Psychology and Sociology) for the most points on the squad. Turner was 6-for-8 from the field.

Taylor Lawhorne (Sr., Amityville, N.Y., Business Management) opened scoring in the third quarter off an assist from Kayla Jones (Sr., Louisville, Ky., Psychology). The period was the best of the day for the Statesmen as they outscored the Threshers 14-13.  William Penn hit five of its 15 shots in the third.

Although it was too little too late, William Penn trimmed the deficit another seven points by outscoring Bethel 21-14 in the fourth stanza.  The Statesmen shot 8-for-17 in the final quarter, while limiting the Threshers to 6-for-19 overall (0-for-3 3-PT).

Meghanne Freehill (Jr., Lewiston, Ill., Sports Management) had a solid day on the offensive end with eightpoints, while Dekota Smith (Fr., Toledo, Ohio, Applied Computer Science) was just behind with seven. Eleni Stefanaki (Thessaloniki, Greece, Biology) had five points as well.

Freehill also paced the Statesmen in rebounds (6), steals (5), and assists (4), while Neva'eh Diaz-Doolin (Fr., Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Biology) added five boards.

"I thought we came out flat on both ends of the floor today," Head Coach Sheawn Bedford said. "We didn't take care of the ball, and it led to easy opportunities for Bethel. Rebounding and turnovers ultimately hindered us from winning this game.  We will learn from those mistakes and get better."

Next Up: William Penn remains in Salina, Kan. Saturday to face host Kansas Wesleyan at 4 p.m.