DES MOINES, Iowa – Just a week after experiencing a thrilling 109-108 victory at Olivet Nazarene in the season opener, the Missouri Baptist University women's basketball team (1-1) suffered its first setback of the year. Sophomore guard Rose Wassef was the only Spartan to score in double figures Friday in an 88-37 loss to (RV) William Penn University in the Grand View University Classic opener.
 
Playing the first of two strong Heart of America Athletic Conference teams in the tournament, MBU kept close with the Statesmen in the first quarter despite falling behind early. At the first break, the Spartans trailed 16-10.
 
William Penn continued to push for a double-digit lead, however, the Spartans provided an answer each time the Statesmen attempted to break the 10-point margin. Rose Wassef and newcomer Kadesha Cooper kept Missouri Baptist in the game as the duo accounted for 14 of MBU's 19 first-half points. After the Spartan offense went silent in the final three minutes of the half, WPU finally broke through and took a 31-19 lead into halftime.
 
The Statesmen squad, which has qualified for back-to-back NAIA DI Women's Basketball National Championships, took advantage of another Missouri Baptist drought in the third quarter and pulled away for good. After a Le'ondra Wilson 3-pointer at 44-29, William Penn went on a devastating 13-0 run.
 
As if the offensive struggles were not enough in the third quarter, the final 10 minutes were just as tough for the Spartans. MBU committed 12 turnovers in the fourth quarter, while scoring five points to William Penn's 30.
 
On Friday, Missouri Baptist shot 14-of-56 (.250) from the field and just 5-of-25 (.200) from beyond the arc. Meanwhile, the Statesmen were 31-of-57 (.543) from the floor and out-rebounded the Spartans by a wide margin, 50-23.
 
Up next for MBU is host Grand View University Saturday evening at 6 p.m. The Vikings represent the second straight 2018 NAIA DI National Tournament qualifier that the Spartans will face in its young season.