Home Heartbreak in Overtime

Oskaloosa, Iowa – The William Penn women's basketball team dropped a 73-60 overtime decision to conference foe Graceland on Wednesday at home.

Despite being outshot 40.9% to 30.9% and outrebounded 48-43, the Statesmen (5-13, 2-8) stayed tight before the Yellowjackets (2-16, 1-9) pulled away in the extra period.

Graceland scored first, but William Penn answered quickly when Kayla Jones (Sr., Louisville, Ky., Psychology) tied the game at 2-2 with her first basket of the contest.

The Yellowjackets followed with an 8-2 run before Kayla Peoples (Sr., Waco, Texas, Nursing) halted the surge with a three-pointer with four minutes remaining in the opening quarter.

Peoples led the Statesmen with a double-double, finishing with 15 points and 10 rebounds. She also shared team-high assist honors with Reagan Pavesi (Jr., Austin, Texas, Wellness and Recreation), as each recorded three assists.

The teams traded baskets the rest of the first quarter, with Graceland holding an 11-9 edge at the break.

The Yellowjackets opened the scoring in the second quarter, but William Penn responded, tying the game at 15-15 on a three-pointer by Laney Parker (Jr., Springfield, Ill., Business Management)

Parker had a solid outing against the Yellowjackets, finishing with nine points and five rebounds.

William Penn kept the run alive until the end of the first half, where it led 26-22.

William Penn extended its advantage early in the third quarter before Graceland chipped away, knotting the score at 34-34 with 2:41 remaining.

A late 3-pointer gave the Yellowjackets a 39-37 lead heading into the fourth.

Graceland scored the first four points of the final period before Dekota Smith (Jr., Toledo, Ohio, Computer Science) stopped the run with a layup, sparking a William Penn response that tied the game at 45-45.

Smith finished with six points.

The contest featured four ties in the final five minutes, and regulation ended deadlocked at 53-53.

Kayla Jones opened overtime with a 3-pointer just 10 seconds into the period.

 Jones finished the game with 14 points and five rebounds.

The teams remained even at 60-60 with 2:36 left in overtime before Graceland closed the game on a 13-0 run to secure the win.

"Heartbreaking loss tonight." Head Coach Sheawn Bedford Jr. said, "I thought our girls battled the entire game, but ultimately Graceland made a few more plays than we did. We have another opportunity at home Saturday and I know we will be better because of this loss."

Next Up: William Penn remains home Saturday to host Missouri Baptist in conference play at 2:00 p.m.