Pride fall short after second half comeback at William Penn

OSKALOOSA, Iowa - Getting the final week of the 2024-25 regular season underway with their fourth-straight Monday night game, the Clarke University women's basketball team dropped their rematch against William Penn University on the road by a final score of 72-68.

The Pride were down by 12 points heading into the halftime break but were able to cut into that deficit thanks to a 20-11 third quarter that saw CU hit four of their seven three point attempts, which would match the total field goals made by WPU in the period.

Trailing by three to start the final 10 minutes of action, the two teams would trade scoring possessions before Clarke would take their first lead since an 11-10 adavantage in the first quarter at the 5:13 mark when Hailey Watlers would hit a jumper with about 2:30 remaining in the game to put CU up 63-62.

The Statesmen would answer with a bucket of their own before Zoe Kennedy completed a three-point play to give the Pride a two-point lead at 66-64 before Carley West would hit two layups over the next three WPU possessions to tie the game and put William Penn back up two points with under 30 seconds to go as West and Mariah Baltierra would combine to go 4-for-4 from the free throw line to close out the game and keep Clarke out of striking distance.

Kennedy led all scorers with 25 points on 8-of-16 (50%) shooting from the field and added nine rebounds to be one shy of a double-double with Walters finishing at 20 points or higher for the third time this season with an even 20 as she went 8-for-13 (61.5%) from the field and 4-for-7 (57.1%) from deep and Sydni Morris finished with a 10-point, 12-rebound double-double.

William Penn also had three players finish in double figures led by a pair of 20-plus point scorers in Jaida Smith and West with Smith leading the way slightly with 22 points and West ending at 21 points and 12 rebounds for a double-double of her own while Aysia Arrowood adding 12 points.

Clarke women's basketball will remain on the road for their final two games of the regular season starting with a trip to Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Wednesday, Feb. 19 with a 5:30 p.m. CT scheduled tip against Mount Mercy University.