After building as a large as a 20 point lead late in the game it was the 16 free throws in the second half that secured the William Jewell women's basketball team their second win of the season as they topped Upper Iowa University 79-63 in Mabee Center Sunday afternoon. The win moves the Cardinals to 2-5 overall while Upper Iowa falls to 1-4.
The Peacocks came out strong grabbing an early 8-3 lead before Jewell would get into rhythm. After tying the game at 20 at the 8:49 mark of the second quarter the Cardinals began to build momentum and went on a small 15-11 run to close the half.
During the opening half the Cardinals shot just 37 percent from the floor but forced the Peacocks into several costly turnovers to hold the four point lead.
Unlike past games Jewell came out in the third quarter hot and scored six unaswered points and eventually pushed the lead to 11 at 42-31 behind a three point shot from
Logan Antenen and an offensive rebound putback from
Madison Campbell.
Over the final two minutes of the third quarter and first four minutes of the fourth, the Cardinals went on a 16-5 run to build their largest lead of the day at 20 points.
Upper Iowa did not go quietly however as the Peacocks made a run of their own midway through the fourth quarter to get back within 11 before junior
Maddie Nelson scored six of the game's final eight points to propel the Cardinals to the win.
Nelson led all scorers with 19 to go along with six rebounds, four assists, and five steals. Antenen followed close behind with 18 points, six rebounds (all offensive), and three assists. Junior
Chris Keys posted her first double-double of the season with 11 points and 11 rebounds while Campbell, a freshman also pulled down nine boards.
As a team the Cardinals outrebounded Upper Iowa 50-39 including grabbing 24 offensive rebounds. While Jewell managed to shoot just 27 percent from behind the three point line the Cardinals made good on 25 of 32 free throws while the Peacocks connected on just 15 of 30.
The Cardinals are off until after the Thanksgiving holiday as they travel to the Missouri Western State University tournament in St. Joseph, Mo. November 27-28 where they will take on former NAIA foes Graceland and Evangel.
